Where Alabama turns for defensive line depth after Jehiem Oatis opt-out

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis elected to redshirt the rest of the 2024-25 season and enter the transfer portal when the window opens in December.

Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer and defensive coordinator Kane Wommack addressed the move on Monday. But defensive line coach Freddie Roach has not spoken to Oatis.

“I wish him obviously nothing but the best, he and his family,” Roach said. “In life, you have choices and decisions. He made a decision. Wish him nothing but the best.”

Oatis told ESPN’s Pete Thamel he chose to move on due to a lack of 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.

Against the Commodores, the Tide played seven defensive linemen. Tim Keenan led the group with 56, which was a season-high. Alabama’s top Bandits, LT Overton and Jah-Marien Latham, logged 40 or more snaps. Damon Payne finished with the second-most interior lineman snaps with 38 – a new career-high. Tim Smith and James Smith each saw 30 or more snaps. Second-year linemen Edric Hill (4) and Jordan Renaud (3) saw time.

Interior defensive linemen like Keenan, both Smiths and Payne have consistently played with the first-team defense, with Keenan and Tim Smith being the first guys on the field. But Payne and James Smith have been the first D-linemen off the bench for Alabama. 

“They’ve done a really good job,” Roach said. “James has matured. He grew up. He fought his butt off last week, and he’s done that week in and week out. But again, it’s the attention to detail. What do I have to do to make sure I have an opportunity to be successful and go out there and play.”

That quartet will continue to see a bulk of the reps, but who could benefit from Oatis’ departure? Hill was the fifth interior linemen to play on the road versus Vanderbilt, appearing in his fourth game this season. A redshirt freshman, Hill could see his role increase should Alabama look to rotate more than four defensive tackles and create quality D-line depth.

Other scholarship defensive linemen on the Crimson Tide’s 2024 roster include converted linebacker Keon Keeley, Hunter Osborne and freshmen Jeremiah Beaman and Isaia Faga.

“We’re trying to get everybody ready to play, and we’re focused on that,” Roach said. “We’re focused on those guys that were threes and fours, that have opportunities to play. Payne’s played well. Tim Smith has played well. Tim Keenan has played well. I can go on and on.

“We’re focused on what we’ve got to do to be successful.”

Alabama’s defensive line will look to bounce back from a lackluster performance in a 40-35 loss to Vanderbilt. But Roach on Monday preached the importance of moving on to this week and a home matchup with South Carolina (11 a.m. CT on ABC). He said the Crimson Tide’s coaching staff has emphasized the same coaching points had it won this past week.

“Did we play to a certain standard?” Roach said. “Did we control our gaps? Did we play with good pad level? Did we play with our hands? Did we play with good eye discipline? 

“Regardless of circumstance or the situation, those are the things that you have to do day in and day out to be successful playing that position.”

Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!

Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!