What finally brought Jehiem Oatis home to Mississippi?
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
OXFORD – If he’s being honest, Ole Miss fifth-year defensive tackle Jehiem Oatis missed the food while he was away.
Oatis, a Columbia, Mississippi native, was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class who began his college career at Alabama under then-defensive coordinator Pete Golding. He started 10 games as a true freshman for the Crimson Tide and racked up 55 tackles over his first two seasons. He played in just four games in 2024, however, and transferred to Colorado for the 2025 season. Oatis started four games for the Buffaloes last year and finished with nine tackles in 11 games overall.
The 6-foot-5, 335-pound Oatis entered the transfer portal again in December and decided it was finally time to return home. He committed to Ole Miss in January as a four-star transfer prospect, per 247Sports.
In addition to the opportunity to reunite with his friends and family and play in his home state, Oatis admits the style of food Mississippi provides has its draw, too.
“We cook a little thicker. The food (is) a little thicker,” Oatis said with a smile. “So, that was my thing, just the food taste.”
Ole Miss figures to have one of the better defensive lines in the SEC with juniors Will Echoles and Kam Franklin and senior Jamarious Brown back in the fold along with key transfer portal additions like senior Jordan Renaud (Alabama), senior Blake Purchase (Oregon), fifth-year Jonathan Maldonado (Nevada), junior Michai Boireau (Florida) and Oatis. Though he’s older in class standing than Echoles and Franklin, Oatis said he “still look(s) up to them” and wants to fit into what they have previously established as leaders.
“I’m not trying to take over,” Oatis said. “I’m here to join you all and learn what you all do.”
As a freshman at Alabama with Golding as his defensive coordinator, Oatis made a career-high 29 tackles and had two tackles-for-loss. Golding joined the Ole Miss staff as defensive coordinator prior to the 2023 season and was elevated to head coach following the conclusion of the 2025 regular season when Lane Kiffin took the LSU job.
The connection Golding and Oatis had back in 2022 is still holding strong.
“(Golding is) somebody who’ll be real with you,” Oatis said. “He’s somebody you can walk up to, ask about something if you have a problem. Just anything you need, Pete is a guy who will be honest. He’ll sit down and lead you the right way.”
Columbia is located about four hours south of Oxford. Having family within driving distance made his decision to enroll at Ole Miss that much easier, too.
“Just being back in Mississippi (will) give my family opportunities to come up here and spend time with me, take them out to eat,” Oatis said. “Just hang out, have fun.”
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos