Shortly after Alabama football confirmed defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis would redshirt the 2024 season and enter the transfer portal, a Crimson Tide staff member used social media to blast players in Oatis' situation.
Former Alabama safety HaHa Clinton-Dix, who serves as the director of player development for the University of Alabama, posted a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, attacking players who use a redshirt to eventually enter the transfer portal.
"Players are opting out to redshirt a year because they didn't get playing time?" Clinton-Dix wrote. "What about creating good habits and working on your craft? Just quit. No more reps at practice no more routines? Just go into the portal rusty? Got it.
"It's not that it's ruining college football, but it's hurting our youth who need these times to face adversity, develop good habits and character as young men so success carries over into the next chapter of life."
In his Monday press conference, Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said he was not surprised by Oatis' redshirt.
"Felt like it was going that way," DeBoer said. "I think what we also have to understand is there's other elements to this, right? There's health elements, there's life elements. I love these guys, they've worked hard. Jeheim's choices and things, there's reasons for that."
After recording 55 tackles, 1.5 sacks and four pass deflections in 2022 and 2023, Oatis has two tackles and a pass deflection in 2024.
According to Pro Football Focus, Oatis has played 68 snaps this season, peaking with 23 against Western Kentucky.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at cgay@gannett.com or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Former Alabama safety HaHa Clinton-Dix blasts redshirt use for transfer portal
