Four-star recruit Jehiem Oatis would have loved to play under legendary football coach Nick Saban and that’s why he initially committed to the Alabama Crimson Tide. However, the coaching great decided it’s time to get off from the sidelines and get behind the mic after the 2023 season.
In his replacement, Alabama hired Kalen DeBoer to lead the program. This resulted in mass exodus of decommittments and among them was Oatis.
“I left Alabama because I came in with coach Saban. I took it to heart,” Oatis told On3’s Pete Nakos. “That was one of my biggest dreams: To play in college football for coach Saban and win a ring. When I heard he was leaving — nobody saw it coming.”
Oatis tried to get along with the new staff, comprising DeBoer, but the sync wasn’t just there as he finally pulled the plug. He spent the first five games of the 2024 season at Alabama but struggled to find his role. With limited snaps and nagging injuries, Oatis opted to redshirt and enter the transfer portal by October
“The new staff wasn’t for me. And once I found out that they didn’t mess with me, I knew it was time to get up and get out of there,” Oatis added.
Jehiem Oatis Settled For Another Coaching Great in Boulder
In search of another destination, Jehiem Oatis found Deion Sanders’ Colorado a bright spot to be at. With a legendary NFL Hall of Famer turning life around at Colorado, he didn’t need to look beyond.
It was not only Deion’s presence that drove him there. Former defensive tackle Warren Sapp and coach Domata Peko’s presence also played a part in his decision to move to Colorado.
“Got a great defensive line coach in coach Sapp,” Oatis said. “I came out here because of the great coaches. And I wanted to play for coach Deion. Seeing our coaches, you know what they did in the league and the legacy they left there. Like coach Peko, he played 15 years in the league at nose tackle. That explains it all right there.”
“I feel like it’s beneficial for me, and I feel like I can give a lot of help to this season,” Oatis added. “And I will have a coach I can depend on and a position coach leading me the right way.”
Now healthy and motivated, Oatis gears up for his Buffs debut on Friday, August 29, 2025, when Colorado hosts Georgia Tech.
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