Ha Ha Clinton-Dix laments players redshirting for playing time after Jehiem Oatis news

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix took to social media to make a strong statement about redshirting due to playing time.

The former safety, who is now the director of player development for Alabama football, shared some thoughts on X, the app formerly known as Twitter.

“Players forego redshirting for a year because they don’t get playing time?” Clinton-Dix wrote. “How about developing good habits and working on your craft? Just stop. No more repetitions in training, no more routines? Just go into the portal rusty? Got it.”

Clinton-Dix didn't mention Jehiem Oatis by name, but given the timing, it's not hard to see the connections. On the Monday morning before Clinton-Dix's post, Oatis announced he would redshirt the remainder of the season and planned to enter the transfer portal, his agents Noah Reisenfeld and Adie von Gontard of Young Money APAA Sports told AL.com.

His agency cited the limited options this season as the reason for his decision. According to Pro Football Focus, Oatis ranked seventh among Alabama defensive linemen in snaps this season before sitting out the game against Vanderbilt. In his first two seasons at Alabama, Oatis was a top-four snap starter among defensive linemen.

“It felt like it was going,” Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said. “I think you also have to understand that there are other elements, right. There are health elements. There are elements of life. I love these guys. They work hard. Jehiem's ​​decisions and things – there are reasons for that. Right? He notified and notified and continued to communicate with us here. Somehow it felt like maybe it was going that way. Not just today or yesterday or here in the last few days.”

Oatis is far from the only player to make such a decision 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 remainder of the season to maintain his eligibility due to an NIL dispute. Southern Cal defensive lineman Bear Alexander also opted to redshirt this season, sitting out to “retain one year of eligibility,” according to ESPN.

“It’s not like it’s ruining college football,” Clinton-Dix wrote in a post 13 minutes after the original. “But it is detrimental to our youth who need these times to overcome adversity, develop good habits and build character as young men so that success carries over to the next chapter of their lives.”

Nick Kelly is a beat writer from Alabama AL.com and Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X And Instagram.