WATCH: Jaheim Oatis, Chris Braswell speak ahead of fourth spring practice
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama football team is already gearing up for its fourth session of spring practice. With the annual Golden Flake A-Day Game set for April 22, we are just over three weeks away from seeing the Crimson Tide back on the field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
On Tuesday afternoon, two Alabama players spoke to the media. Those players were defensive lineman Jaheim Oatis and outside linebacker Chris Braswell. Below, we’ve got video of both of their media availabilities, plus transcripts. Check it out.
DL Jaheim Oatis
On what Alabama’s offseason focus was…
“Just getting everybody on the same page. Get myself ready for this season coming up. Try and get out there and just work hard, try to get everything situated right.”
On playing with his new weight…
“It’s a lot better losing all this weight. I feel a lot better. Breathing good, practicing better. When I had all that weight on me, it was a lot. But now that I lost all of it, I feel better.”
On the biggest difference from last year to this year outside of the weight…
“From this year to last year, I would say it is the weight. That was my big concern coming here was the weight. I was talking to Miss Amy and all of them about my weight before I came. So as I’ve gotten my weight down, I feel a lot better talking about it and stuff.”
On if there’s anything about his game that’s different…
“I move way faster than what I did back in high school. I move quicker. I’ve gotten quicker on my feet and stuff.”
On what he weighs now and if he’s trying to lose more…
“Right now, we’re trying to get to 330, but my weight right now is 320. So I’m good around 320 to 330-ish.”
On how much weight he’s lost total…
“I’d say almost 100 (pounds).”
On what advice he has given the young Alabama defensive linemen…
“As a freshman last year to this year, I learned a lot in the game. How it’s different from high school and stuff, but coming into the new year, I expect the game — I know how the game works, so I’m prepared for it.”
On how Alabama’s defensive line is pushing its offensive line..
“We’re competing every day. Offense versus defense, we’re competing and making each other better. Every time we compete, we’re going to do what we have to do to make each other better.”
On what former Alabama DL DJ Dale and Byron Young taught him last year…
“Them two guys, they were good captains and good leaders. I learned a lot from DJ and Byron playing with them. They were helping me out during the season last year with the plays, working hard and I appreciate those two.”
On what helped him make an early impact for Alabama last year…
“When I came in with the weight loss, I didn’t think I was going to play because I weighed so much. When I came in they were helping me with the weight and then DJ Dale talked to me and helped me out from my first three games and told me how the game was going to move and play.”
On his new diet in college compared to the one he had in high school…
“In high school, I ate what I wanted. Miss Amy though, it’s a lot of baked. She took away the bread and rice, so I eat a lot of vegetables, salad, baked chicken, shrimp and a lot of grilled food.”
On the importance of spring camp on the freshmen and early enrollees…
“It’s very important. You come in as a freshman, it’s somewhere new and it’s very hard to learn around here. So when they come it’s make sure you’re studying, putting in the work, listen to the older guys that are trying to help you.”
On Alabama’s offensive line…
“That group hard, they work hard. That whole group work hard. JC [Latham] is a good leader, T-Boo [Tyler Booker] is a good leader, that whole offensive line are leaders, they work hard.”
On what he wants the defensive line to be known for…
“This D-line group right here, right now we’re just trying to teach everybody the basics, trying to teach everybody the simple stuff. But from this D-line group, I just want everybody to be good, be yourself in the game. That’s it.”
On if he’s being more of a leader this year…
“I’d say yeah. Right now, I do. I’m still learning myself, the program, the plays, still having some help with some stuff.”
OLB Chris Braswell
On filling the big shoes left behind by Alabama OLB Will Anderson…
“I feel like everyone is ready to step up, as well as me. With Will being gone, he had a great impact for the school and for the team. He was a very good leader. It’s time for me and other guys to step up into that role.”
On one thing he wants to work on to improvement the most this offseason…
“I feel like I could improve on a lot of things in my game. Pass rush, play the run, jump into coverage. You can never be great at anything. You can always be better. There’s always room for improvement.”
On what’s the best advice he got from Anderson…
“Will’s a great guy. He works hard. He tells me and a lot of the other guys ‘keep working, keep your head down and be the best that you can possible.'”
On how impressive Oatis’ weight loss has been, importance of him clogging middle…
“It’s very impressive. He lost, I think, over 100 pounds. Seeing him go through the process, work hard, and dedicate himself was very impressive. And obviously that does help open up lanes as far as pass rushing.”
On the message from new Alabama DC Kevin Steele after a week of practice…
“Great defense. Being physical, fast and eliminate mental errors and penalties.”
On what he finds himself telling Alabama’s younger guys about the program…
“Working hard and if a young guy asks me about a play and I’ll go out and help him with that. Overall to me, just stepping up in that leadership role and being a vocal leader, and also showing leadership. Like, you know, actions.”
On what he’s seen from some of Alabama’s younger guys so far…
“Yes, we have a lot of talented young guys coming in that are doing a great job in practice. Very physical, determined and work very hard.”
On Trezmen Marshall and Justin Jefferson fitting into the defensive system…
“It’s been very easy for them. They’re getting onto the playbook pretty well. Like I said, those guys work hard as well.”
On finding himself in a guiding role with Dallas Turner out this spring…
“Like I said, as far as young guys in my position group, just helping them with the plays, getting them adjusted with them as a freshman. We have a very talented group and everyone is stepping up with Dallas being out.”
On JC Latham wanting Alabama’s OL to be ruthless and what it means for the defense…
“Just going out there and dominating the field, dominating the pass rush and dominating the run game. Just going out there and being physical just like how JC said.”
On what it’s been like watching Latham grow and what’s it like facing him in practice…
“JC is a phenomenal player. He’s grown a lot. He works hard. He helps me and other guys on the team get better as well.”
