On a team full of freakish athletes, Da'Ron Payne is one of the most freakish.

Alabama's promising sophomore defensive tackle also continues to evolve as a player.

The 6-foot-2, 320-pound Birmingham native was already strong against the run, as he showed while starting three games as a freshman last season. However, one of Payne's objectives since the end of last year has been to improve as a pass rusher. He has, according to coach Nick Saban.

"We've tried to improve him a little bit as a pass rusher so he could be a good inside player for us, and I think he's done that," Saban said, "so he gives us another inside player that we can play, which I think is critical based on the guys that we lost. ... Da'Ron has done a nice job and had a really good camp."

With A'Shawn Robinson and Jarran Reed now in the NFL, Payne is being depended on to step in as a full-time starter, to play at a high level and to help the Tide once again be one of the best teams in the country at stopping the run.

He played strictly when Alabama was in its base defense last year, manning the nose tackle spot in the middle of the Tide defensive line. His role will be much bigger this season.

"Da'Ron Payne played very well for us last year," Saban said of Payne, who finished last year with 13 tackles and a forced fumble. "He didn't play a lot in nickel, but really did a good job in (the base defense), and his role has expanded."

Helping Payne will be that freakish combination of strength and athleticism.

At 320 pounds, Payne ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds during the Tide's spring testing.

He also bench-pressed 500 pounds, squatted 600 pounds and did a 365-pound power clean. He wasn't allowed to go higher in any of those three lifts.

"He's explosive. You already know that," redshirt senior defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson said. "He's been working hard just like the rest of the D-linemen have. He's been progressing across the board in pass rushing. He's doing pretty good so far."