Alabama DL Jehiem Oatis plans to redshirt, enter NCAA transfer portal
Alabama defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis plans to redshirt and enter the transfer portal, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel. He attributed the decision to playing time.
Oatis played in Alabama’s first four games but did not see the field in the loss to Vanderbilt last week. The junior has played 68 total snaps this year, according to Pro Football Focus, but only saw 27 combined reps in the Crimson Tide’s games against Wisconsin and Georgia.
In his first two years at Alabama, Oatis played in 25 total games and made 13 starts.
*** Update: On Monday evening, Oatis released a statement.
On Monday, Alabama’s coaches weighed in on the decision.
“I felt like it was going that way,” said head coach Kalen DeBoer. “I think the thing you also have to understand is there’s other elements to this, right? There’s health elements. There’s life elements. I love these guys. They work hard. Jehiem’s choices and things, there’s reasons for that, right?
“And so he has notified and continued to be in communication here with us. I kind of felt like it was maybe going that direction, not just today or yesterday but here in the last few days. We move forward with the guys that really are able to help us win and focused on our program as we go through this.
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“I don’t wanna put finality to it, but we’re always gonna want what’s best for all people and Jehiem is one of them.”
Added Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, “He’s been battling some injuries, has not been able to perform or produce the way that any of us would like. But my focus is really on the players that are going to do everything they can to help us win football games, and so that’s really where my focus is right now.”
The NCAA transfer portal will officially open for undergraduates on Monday, Dec. 9.
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