Jehiem Oatis made waves over the offseason by taking a shot at Kalen DeBoer and the new Alabama coaching staff.
Oatis, once a star freshman at Alabama in 2022, played less and less during his career after making 10 starts during his first season in Tuscaloosa. He fell out of favor quickly with DeBoer and the new coaching staff after Nick Saban's retirement, and Oatis ultimately made the decision to quit the team in October of last year to preserve a redshirt year.
Oatis transferred to Colorado, and in an interview with On3's Pete Nakos took a shot at DeBoer and the Alabama coaches for the lack of playing time he received.
“Last year, when I was there, they were literally messing me over and weren’t giving me playing time,” Oatis told Nakos. "That was a big part of why I left. 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.”
Deion Sanders and Colorado might see a similar quote from Oatis after this season because the Alabama transfer hasn't found much playing time in Boulder, either.
His lack of work ethic was panned before the start of the season in a viral video where Philadelphia-based rapper Gillie Da Kid was seen giving Oatis advice and telling the Alabama transfer that there was a perception already within the Colorado staff that he didn't work very hard.
Jehiem Oatis is hopefully learning the problem has been him - not any of his coaches
Criticising the coaching staff was low-hanging fruit for Oatis. But his playing time has not increased much in Boulder, despite Colorado's defense struggling badly. Colorado ranks 130th out of 136 FBS programs in run defense, allowing over 215 yards per game.
Despite that, Oatis has remained a backup and not produced much so far for the Buffaloes. He's recorded just six total tackles this season, though he has gotten playing time in eight of Colorado's nine games.
But Oatis was considered one of the top defensive linemen in the Transfer Portal last year. He has not produced anywhere close to that level, and it has nothing to do with his talent. You don't start 10 games for Nick Saban on defense as a freshman if you don't have talent.
Oatis' problem has never been talent. He has all the potential in the world. Hopefully, his time with Colorado has been a humbling experience for him, one he will take to heart and do what it takes to perform at the level he's capable of.