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Alabama football: 3 second-year players who’ll become stars in 2023

By Connor Muldowney

Dec 31, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Kobe Prentice (80) celebrates his touchdown scored against the Kansas State Wildcats with wide receiver Jermaine Burton (3) during the second half in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Kobe Prentice (80) celebrates his touchdown scored against the Kansas State Wildcats with wide receiver Jermaine Burton (3) during the second half in the 2022 Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Wevers-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 5, 2022; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis (91) misses the tackle of LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2022; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis (91) misses the tackle of LSU Tigers quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) during the second half at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports /

Not exactly the highest-rated recruit in Alabama’s 2022 class and not even the highest-ranked defensive lineman the Tide landed, Jaheim Oatis had a heck of a freshman season.

OK, so that first part made it seem like Oatis was some underrated recruit, but he was the No. 71 prospect in the nation. Alabama just had an incredible recruiting class again so even though he was a top-75 national recruit, he was just the Tide’s 11th-best signee. Just think about that for a second.

Back to the topic at hand, however.

Oatis had one heck of a freshman season in which he accounted for 29 total tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack, and two pass breakups.

That’s a heck of a first impression, and he’s just getting started.

The second-year defensive lineman is projected to start for the Tide on the interior next season and I think he has the potential to be a superstar up front. He’s strong, has a knack for getting into the backfield and he’s going to be a legit NFL prospect soon enough.

Oatis will be a household name in 2023.

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