Jehiem Oatis, top defender in transfer portal, picks Colorado

Ex Alabama defensive attack Jehiem OatesNo. 1 defensive player ESPN Transfer Rankingshe obliged Coloradohe told ESPN on Monday.

The 6-foot-1, 320-pound junior was one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal and the No. 5 player in ESPN’s transfer rankings. He still has two qualifying seasons left.

Oatis, ranked No. 38 overall in the 2022 ESPN 300, played in 13 games in his first two seasons at Alabama and appeared in four games in 2024.

Oatis is another big name to join coach Deion Sanders in Colorado. The Buffaloes’ portal-based approach to rebuilding their roster paid off in 2024 with a 9-3 record and a No. 23 finish in the final College Football Playoff rankings.

Oatis told ESPN he was heading to Colorado to “make the team great again.”

He made his selection thanks to Sanders, defensive line coach Damione Lewis and analyst Warren Sapp. The feeling is that the combination of these three coaches could help Oatis maximize his enormous potential.

“I feel like it’s beneficial for me and I feel like I can help a lot this season,” he said. “I will have a coach I can rely on and a position coach who will guide me in the right direction.”

Offseason surgeries forced Oatis to miss spring training and limited him early in training camp. After playing a rotational role under new Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack, Oatis made the mid-season decision to sit out the rest of the campaign and redshirt.

During his time in Tuscaloosa, Oatis recorded 52 tackles, five pass breakups and 1.5 sacks.

Colorado had one of the most improved defenses in the country under first-year defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, who ranked 124th in the FBS in scoring defense last year and 38th this season.

“Great, great coaches,” Oatis said. “A lot of help. They know what they are talking about and lead the way. They want you to get it, go for it.”

Sanders needs to replace the Heisman Trophy winner Travis HunterThe 12 best offensive players of the year Shedeur Sanders and nine starters on defense. Colorado is expected to sign another major class of transfer recruits for 2025.

Oatis is from Mississippi and has been following Sanders since his transition Jackson’s condition to a national team.

“I just saw Coach Prime go to Jackson State first, where I’m from, and just to see him coach at Jackson State and see what he did for them,” Oatis told ESPN. “Then I’ll come to Colorado and make this team great again. It was a really great thing.”