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a day ago
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Alabama Transfer Reveals Why He Left The Program for Colorado
Alabama Transfer Reveals Why He Left The Program for Colorado originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Alabama Crimson Tide were not safe from the transfer portal this offseason, losing 24 players after Kalen DeBoer's first year. Advertisement One of the players the team lost was defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis, who had been with the Crimson Tide for three years. Oatis committed to the Colorado Buffaloes. He explained to On3's Pete Nakos that it had to do with playing for legendary head coach Nick Saban. Oatis played for Saban for two seasons before the Alabama coach retired following the end of the 2023 campaign. Saban's last game as head coach was the 27-20 overtime loss to the Michigan Wolverines in the College Football Playoff. Alabama Crimson Tide legend Nick Saban. © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images 'I left Alabama because I came in with coach Saban,' Oatis said. 'I took it to heart. 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.' Advertisement Oatis played in 15 games in his first two seasons at Alabama, recording 55 total tackles, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. The 2024 season did not go to plan for Oatis, however. He missed the majority of spring practice due to multiple surgeries, but was able to get back to full health when the season started in August. Even though he was healthy, he could not find playing time and opted to use his redshirt year and transfer. Oatis played in four games for the Crimson Tide last season and recorded two total tackles. Speaking of former Saban players, Mark Ingram II and CJ Mosley have been in the spotlight recently. Ingram responded to Florida State Seminoles quarterback Thomas Castellanos' trash-talking before their season opener against Alabama. Advertisement Castellanos stated that he was no longer afraid of Alabama now that the legendary coach was no longer there. For Mosley, he decided to retire from football after a solid 11-year NFL career officially. Alabama and Florida State face off on August 30 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Related: Bill Belichick Earns Commitment From Former Alabama Pledge This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
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Can Colorado replicate their pass rush despite several key departures?
If it wasn't Travis Hunter or Shedeur Sanders making plays for the Colorado Buffaloes last year, it was the defensive line. The Buffs' pass rush led the Big 12 with 39 total sacks on the season. BJ Green II led the team in sacks with 7.5. Green brought hardware home for his pass rush last year, earning All-Big 12 First-Team Honors. Green is now a likely NFL draft pick. Advertisement The two others below Green on the depth chart were Arden Walker, Taje McCoy and Keaten Wade. Out of the top four sack leaders for the Buffaloes last season, Green graduating and McCoy transferring leave room for players to step up on the edge. For the big nasties in the middle, the Buffs brought in transfer Jehiem Oatis from Alabama and have Amari McNeill returning for his senior season. With leading pass rushers out the door, who will step up in Colorado's pass rush? Will the pass rush be as dominant this season as it was last season? With the addition of Oatis, can the Buffs stop the run in 2025? Here is our eighth pre-spring game position preview, a series in which we will examine all the major contributors across all position groups and break down how Colorado's roster might look. Let's take a look at one of the deepest position groups CU has heading into 2025. Advertisement Check out our other spring position previews: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receivers, Tight Ends, Offensive Line, Cornerbacks and Linebackers. DE Arden Walker Colorado's Arden Walker celebrates after a sack against Texas Tech in a Big 12 football game Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at Jones AT&T Stadium. While two of the top three pass rushers last season left, Walker is still with the Buffs. The Colorado native had a career year in 2024, ending the season with 33 total tackles and six-and-a-half tackles for loss, along with his four-and-a-half sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the second-highest ranked edge player in the Big 12. The ceiling is high entering his senior year, and he could be the pass rusher the Buffs need with Green leaving. DT Jehiem Oatis Sep 28, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis (10) celebrates after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs. Mandatory Credit: Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images Oatis seemed like a star in his first two seasons with the Crimson Tide, before he opted out for the remainder of 2024 and entered the transfer portal. During his time in Tuscaloosa, he tallied 57 tackles and one-and-a-half sacks. The Buffs brought in the 6-foot-5 lineman in the winter and hope to see a resurgence from him to help the run defense. DT Gavriel Lightfoot Oct 29, 2022; Fresno, California, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs defensive lineman Gavriel Lightfoot (92) holds the Old Oil Can trophy after defeating the San Diego State Aztecs at Valley Children's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports With the Buffs having versatile options at tackle, Lightfoot provides the Buffs with their best run-stopping ability. Coming from Fresno State, in 2024, he tallied 37 tackles as he was the run-stopper for the Bulldogs. For a defense that allowed 151.4 rushing yards per game in 2024, his addition should help the Buffs stop the run. DE Keaton Wade Oct 19, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Colorado Buffalos defensive end Keaten Wade (27) against the Arizona Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images After dealing with injuries in the spring, Wade is expected to have a major role in the pass rush this season. In 2024, he missed the first six games of the season and had a breakout second half. Injust 105 snaps, he tallied seven-and-a-half TFLs with four sacks. With Green and McCoy leaving, Wade can step into a more significant role, pending any setbacks. Advertisement Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Everything to know about Colorado's defensive line before spring game
