Jaheim Oatis opens up on weight loss, improvement

One of the more underrated storylines of last season for Alabama was the weight loss journey for defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis. Coming into the program last year, Oatis needed a full body transformation and got results quickly. He was able to contribute early as a freshman and with another offseason under his belt, seems to be in the best shape of his life.

When Oatis was in high school, he was nearly 420 pounds. With nearly a fourth of that weight off, he feels better on a daily basis. Oatis mentioned he is able to breathe easier and be more efficient during practice.

“It’s a lot better,” Oatis said. “Losing all of this weight. I feel a lot better, breathing good, practicing better. When I had all that weight on me, it was a lot. But now that I lost all of it, I feel better.”

Alabama knew a project would be on its hands during the recruiting process. Oatis was speaking with the nutrition department before ever stepping on campus. Everything has gone to plan and to think Oatis is feeling great after having a solid freshman year is scary for the rest of the SEC.

“It is the weight,” Oatis said. “That was my biggest concern coming here, was the weight. I was talking to Miss Amy and all of them before I came. So, as I got my weight down, I feel a lot better. I move way faster than what I did in high school. I’m way quicker. Got quicker on my feet and stuff.”

Every player at Alabama must go through the 4th Quarter program, a tough workout regiment during the offseason. However, Oats credited his new diet under the Director of Performance Nutrition, Amy Bragg. Major changes from her have helped Oatis in a big way.

“In high school, I ate what I want,” Oats said. “Miss Amy though — she takes away the bread or the rice. So, I eat a lot of vegetables, salad, baked chicken, shrimp. A lot of grilled food.”

Funny enough, Oatis may actually be trying to gain weight now. After losing over 100 pounds, Alabama believes you could gain 10 pounds back before the fall to get at his max playing weight. Something nobody in the program could have imagined this time a year ago.

“Right now, we’re trying to get to 330,” Oats said. “But my weight right now is 320. So, I am good around 320, 330.”