Defensive tackle Da'Ron Payne played in the final game of the 2017 college football season. In fact, he was the Defensive Player of the Game in Alabama's 26-23 overtime victory against Georgia in their CFP championship showdown on Jan. 8.

The end of football games didn't mean the end of football, though. Payne switched to preparations for the NFL Scouting Combine, Alabama's Pro Day and draft workouts as he sought to raise his stock with pro player-personnel evaluators.

They thought highly of Payne, and he went to the Washington Redskins with the 13th pick in the NFL Draft on April 26.

May brought rookie minicamp and the transition into Washington's offseason program with the full team. The Redskins' offseason program ended on June 14, giving Payne his first break in quite a while.

He's had enough of it.

"It's pretty cool," Payne said on Saturday, "but I'm ready to go ahead and get back to work, get to camp and get the season rolling."

Payne still has about two weeks until he's scheduled to report to his first NFL training camp. Washington will convene on July 25 at the Bon Secours Washington Redskins Training Center in Richmond, Virginia, to resume its preparations for the 2018 NFL season.

The Redskins kick off their four-game preseason schedule on Aug. 9 against the New England Patriots and play their season-opening game on Sept. 9 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Before playing for Alabama, Payne earned All-State recognition in 2014 at Shades Valley High School. He said if he learned anything growing up in Alabama that had helped him reach the NFL, it was the value of hard work.

"I think just the hard work, just my work ethic," Payne said when asked what accompanied him to the nation's capital from home. "I know nothing's going to come easy. I'm going to have to work at whatever I want. I'm just trying to take that into the NFL."

The transition from one of the elite college programs to the pros has been smooth, Payne said, but there is a big difference (besides getting paid).

"It's really been being accountable for yourself, doing things on your own," Payne said.

When the Redskins picked Payne, it marked the second straight year that Washington had used its first-round draft choice on an Alabama defensive lineman. In 2017, the Redskins selected Jonathan Allen with the 17th choice.

Washington also added two Alabama defenders in each of the past two drafts, selecting linebacker Ryan Anderson in the second round in 2017 and linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton in the sixth round in 2018. By signing undrafted rookie wide receiver Cam Sims, Washington has five former Alabama players on its roster.

"They're a bunch of fun, and they help me along the way," Payne said of his Alabama-turned-Washington teammates.

Payne was with one of those teammates on Saturday, when he attended the Daphne Pro Camp. Anderson served as one of the sponsors of the free youth football camp, along with three of his former Daphne High School teammates -- New England Patriots defensive end Eric Lee, Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce and Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon.

"I'm just out here helping Ryan," Payne said. "Just out here trying to stay busy."

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.