Having lost quite a few starters on the defensive side of the ball following the 9-4 season, Colorado looked for ways to improve their defense.
Colorado was hopeful a certain defensive tackle transfer would take their defense to new levels.
Former Alabama defensive tackle Jeheim Oatis agreed to join Coach Prime at Colorado and serve as their game wrecker up front to stop the run. Jeheim was initially recruited under Nick Saban’s staff, and when Kalen DeBoer took over for him, he felt disrespected because he did not play as much.
"Last year, when I was there, they were literally messing me over and weren’t giving me playing time,” Oatis said in the interview. “That was a big part of why I left. The new staff wasn’t for me. And once I found out they didn’t mess with me, I knew it was time to get up and get out of there."Matt Stahl - AL.com
Oatis was a four-star transfer that was part of the reason Colorado boasted the No. 19 overall transfer class in 2025. Despite the hype, he only collected nine tackles over 11 games with Colorado.
Now, the story ends for Oatis in Boulder the same way it did in Tuscaloosa. He will reportedly enter the Transfer Portal once it opens next month:
NEW: Colorado DL Jehiem Oatis plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, @PeteNakos reports.
— Transfer Portal (@TransferPortal) December 15, 2025
Oatis is a former Alabama transfer. https://t.co/FzyqBtCEAj pic.twitter.com/IdQPz68abr
Colorado defensive tackle Jehiem Oatis is headed right back to the Transfer Portal
The defensive tackle will have one year of eligibility left so it will be interesting to see where he ends up.
Hopefully wherever he goes, they can maximize his potential and make him feel at home.
Oatis joins multiple defensive players departing Boulder, such as Noah King, Terrance Love, Mantrez Walker, and Teon Parks, so Colorado will have its hands full in the transfer portal.
The Buffs have plenty of holes to fill on the defensive side of the ball, so look for them to address positions such as the interior defensive line and secondary. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them add a veteran linebacker or two as well.
The portal will officially open on Jan. 2 and continue until Jan. 16.