National Signing Day is on Feb. 4 and the SEC is primed to bring in another impressive haul of top recruits in the 2015 recruiting class. 

In the next 25 days, Saturday Down South counts down the top 25 recruits either committed to the SEC or strongly considering SEC schools.

We continue with No. 23 …

No. 23 Daron Payne

Position: Defensive tackle

247Sports ranking: No. 41

Committed: Alabama

The skinny: Daron Payne was one of the two latest recruits to commit to Alabama. The four-star defensive tackle made his decision known during the Under Armour All-American Game and he’s just the latest top defensive line recruit to make his way to Tuscaloosa. At 6-foot-2, 325-pounds, Payne already has the size to compete along the line of scrimmage in the SEC. Add in his ability to be a punishing tackler and Payne’s the kind of player that can create some intimidating and fear among opposing backfields.

Freshman projection: At Alabama, it’s so hard for a true freshman to come in right away and make an immediate impact. It’s not a knock on their talent level, but just a testament to the depth the Crimson Tide has, especially along the defensive line. Next season, Alabama loses just one from its rotation, senior Brandon Ivory. More than likely, Payne will start out as a third-stringer at best next year and could contribute in a small way. However, I believe it’s more realistic to expect Payne’s contributions to the defense to really start in 2016 rather than next year.

Through the lens: