Though the Colorado Buffaloes are about to lose their two best players — quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter — to the NFL Draft, they have a solid influx of incoming talent to help replace them.
CU got a big win when it signed four-star QB recruit Julian Lewis to replace Sanders, and it got another huge win on Monday when four-star defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis, the No. 3-ranked defensive lineman in the transfer portal according to On3, announced he had committed to Colorado after transferring from Alabama.
Oatis is the sixth four-star recruit to join CU’s 2025 recruiting class, which ranks 35th in the country. He’ll play under one of the top defensive line staffs in the country that includes defensive line coach Damione Lewis and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp.
While landing a player of Oatis’ caliber is big in itself for Colorado and head coach Deion Sanders, what Oatis did after committing was perhaps even bigger. The 6-foot-5 defensive tackle took to social media to send a strong message to other elite recruits in the transfer portal.
“All defensive players that wanna come win a National Championship hit my dm! We bringing the CFP 🏆 to Boulder…,” Oatis tweeted.
Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis (10) celebrates after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs.
Former Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jehiem Oatis (10) celebrates after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs. Gary Cosby Jr.-Imagn Images
Two defensive players of note that Colorado could pursue in the portal are four-star cornerbacks Tacario Davis from Arizona and Josh Moten from Marshall, both of whom would be solid replacements for Hunter.
Other notable defensive players Colorado could target in the transfer portal include Texas State edge-rusher Ben Bell, Purdue edge-rusher Will Heldt, and Florida State edge-rusher Marvin Jones Jr., plus North Carolina linebacker Amare Campbell and Temple LB Tyquan King.
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