Jehiem Oatis Transfers to Colorado After Saban Exit

Jehiem Oatis, a former standout defensive lineman at Alabama, transferred to Colorado following Nick Saban's retirement, citing his personal connection to Saban as a key factor in his initial commitment. After struggling with injuries and limited playing time under new head coach Kalen DeBoer, Oatis felt unsupported by the new staff, chose to redshirt, and entered the transfer portal. Oatis has stated that his transfer was not motivated by NIL money, but by his interest in being developed by coaches with significant NFL experience, such as Deion Sanders and Warren Sapp at Colorado. Despite Sanders' recent health-related absences, Oatis is optimistic about his new role with the Buffaloes. His transfer emphasizes the significant impact of coaching changes on athlete decisions and highlights the appeal of programs led by high-profile former NFL coaches.