Alabama football has had a few players on its defensive front excel after four games, including Tim Keenan III, Que Robinson, LT Overton, James Smith, and Qua Russaw.
Jeheim Oatis, a junior, is a veteran on the line that fans have not seen much of this season. The 6-foot-5, 325-pounder made an incredible body transformation to earn a starting job as a freshmen. He continued to make plays in his second season; however, the native Mississippian has been quiet this year. Oatis has two tackles in four games and fans are concerned about it.
Kane Wommack, Alabama’s defensive coordinator, updated reporters Monday on Oatis.
“Jehiem, in coming up from the offseason, coming off an injury, I still think he is finding his stride,” Wommack said. “He is working to hit his stride. I think he is taking steps in the right direction. I think there is growth there, but certainly we want to continue to see him take steps in the right direction. I think as he continues to take those steps he has high potential and an opportunity to impact this team in a large way.”
Oatis battled injuries last season, but he’s full strength now. He made the Freshman All-SEC team in 2022 and took a step forward as a sophomore, so Oatis has the ability to impact games. Hopefully, he can get back into the flow on defense.
*Get the BEST Alabama football insider information, message board access, and recruiting coverage today! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our subscriber-only content!*
Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
