You don’t just walk away from Alabama football without a good reason.
When DL Jehiem Oatis hit the transfer portal last season, he wasn’t just walking away—he had pivoted his entire career. The 6-foot-5, 320-pound defensive tackle had spent three years with the Crimson Tide, earned Freshman All-SEC honors, and was once viewed as the next great Bama interior lineman.
Then came Nick Saban’s retirement.
“I left Alabama because I came in with Coach Saban,” Oatis told On3. “That was one of my biggest dreams: to play college football for Coach Saban and win a ring. When I heard he was leaving—nobody saw it coming.”
And while new head coach Kalen DeBoer brought in a fresh vision, Oatis saw the writing on the wall.
His playing time had already dipped in 2023. He started just three games. By 2024, he was redshirting after appearing in four matchups. Oatis knew it was time to find a new home.
That home? Boulder, Colorado.
Why Colorado?
When you’re on the defensive line looking to get to the league, and Warren Sapp can be your new position coach, you might want to take that pretty seriously.
“Coach Sapp is a great defensive line coach,” Oatis said. “You see what he did in the league and the legacy he left there. Then you look at Coach Peko—he played 15 years in the NFL at nose tackle. That explains it all right there.”
Colorado now has NFL knowledge at nearly every level of the defense. And for a player like Oatis—who’s already proven he can play in the SEC—this staff might be the final piece to unlocking his draft-day dream.
Oatis arrives in Boulder with two years of eligibility remaining and a resume that speaks volumes:
29 games played at Alabama
13 starts
52 tackles, four pass breakups, and Freshman All-SEC honors
A 2023 spot on the Outland Trophy Watchlist
You don’t land players like this by accident. Coach Prime is building something real on this D-line.
Looking for a fresh start
Oatis isn’t new to pressure. He’s been “that guy” since high school, ranked as the No. 1 player in Mississippi in some recruiting services, and played in the Under Armour All-American Game. He helped lead Columbia High School to a 14-1 record and a state title as a senior.
He came to Tuscaloosa ready to dominate. And for a while, he did. But things change fast in college football. Coaching changes. Schemes shift. Players get recruited over. And sometimes, the best thing you can do is bet on yourself and hit reset.
That’s exactly what Oatis did.
And now, he’s here.
Working with Warren Sapp. Getting coached by Domata Peko. And playing for Deion Sanders, the most recognizable coach in all of sports.
Don’t sleep on Oatis
With all the attention on Julian Lewis and Kaidon Salter, it’s easy to overlook a guy like Oatis. But this might be the most important pickup of the entire offseason for Colorado.
This defense got pushed around at times last year—especially up front. Fixing that starts with players like Oatis.
At his best, he can eat up double-teams, stop the inside rush, and let the edge rushers like Arden Walker dominate. And if he stays healthy? He might be a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft, easy.
Buffs fans should be fired up.
Oatis is here to work. And to win. And to show the SEC—and every scout watching—that he’s back.
—
Want more stories like this? Follow us on X for all things Colorado Football and Basketball.