Ha Ha Clinton-Dix took to social media to make a strong statement about redshirting because of playing time.
The former safety who is now a director of player development for Alabama football, shared some thoughts on X, the app formerly known as Twitter.
“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.”
Clinton-Dix didn’t mention Jehiem Oatis by name, but it’s not hard to connect the dots considering the timing. Earlier in the day Monday before Clinton-Dix’s post, Oatis made known he will redshirt the rest of the season and plans to enter the transfer portal, his agents Noah Reisenfeld and Adie von Gontard of Young Money APAA Sports told AL.com.
Limited opportunity this season was the reason his agency cited for his decision; Oatis was seventh among Alabama defensive linemen in snaps this season, per Pro Football Focus, before he sat out the Vanderbilt game. His first two seasons at Alabama, Oatis was in the top four for snaps among defensive linemen.
“Felt like it was going that way,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “I think the thing you 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 work hard. Jehiem’s choices and things -- there’s reasons for that. Right? He notified and has notified, and continued to be in communication here with us. Kind of felt like it was maybe going that direction. Not just today, or yesterday, or here in the last few days.”
Oatis is far from the only player to make a decision such as this one in college football. Other players have done the same.
UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka dominated college football discussions after the starting quarterback decided to redshirt the rest of the season to maintain his eligibility over an NIL dispute. Southern Cal defensive lineman Bear Alexander also decided to redshirt this season, sitting out to “preserve a year of eligibility,” per ESPN.
“It’s not that it’s ruining college football,” Clinton-Dix wrote in a post 13 minutes after the original. “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.”
