In the offseason, Cristobal called me and started asking questions about him,” Smith said. “(Alabama) didn’t offer him on that phone call, but about a month later, he got his first offer — from Ole Miss.”
More offers soon followed. Alabama, South Carolina, Clemson.
“It just exploded,” Smith said.
Smith had no problem making the pitch for Payne. In many ways, he was a dream player. “His whole four years that I coached him, I don’t recall that he ever missed a workout,” Smith said. “He was never late for meetings or workouts. I never got one e-mail or phone call from another teacher, saying, ‘Can you help me with Da’Ron Payne he’s missing class, he’s tardy, he’s being disrespectful.’ He’s done things the right way.”
Doesn’t sound like it to me.