With the transfer portal officially open, former Alabama defensive lineman Jeheim Oatis has begun to line up his visits, with one expected to go down this week.
Oatis is expected to head up north to take a visit with Deion Sanders and Colorado according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
The imposing 6-foot-5 320 pound defensive tackle is rated as the top defensive player in the portal following his career with the Crimson Tide.
Oatis announced back in October that he would be redshirting the 2024 season and would later be entering the NCAA transfer portal.
Oatis was an immediate contributor when he first joined the Crimson Tide in 2022, where he started 10 games as a true freshman recording 24 total tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. He would follow up the strong campaign with another good showing in the middle of the defensive line posting 26 tackles, one tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks and two pass deflections in 2023.
But Oatis never quite broke through with the new staff in 2024 and started out bit behind after recovering from three surgeries — shoulder, knee and ankle — which limited him at the beginning of fall camp. In his four games of action on the year, Oatis mustered just two tackles as he largely served as a reserve along the front.
Ultimately for Oatis it came down to a decision of what would be best for his future aspirations of playing in the NFL.
“This decision did not come easily, but I need to prioritize my future and career,” Oatis said in a statement back in October. “While the season did not unfold the way we had hoped, my love for this school and its incredible fan base remains as strong as ever. I am deeply grateful for the memories and experiences that have shaped me here, and I will carry them with me the rest of my life.
“As I look forward to the next chapter, I’m excited to find a new home where I can bring NFL-caliber play and help my future team compete for championships.”
For the Buffalo, landing a player the caliber of Oatis would be a massive boost for a defense which ranked No. 53 in the country in yards allowed per game.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
