Jah-Marien Latham attended Pickens County High School, which is approximately 40 miles from the University of Alabama campus. He always wanted to play for his hometown team. However, when Nick Saban retired in January, Latham faced a decision: use the transfer portal to find a new school, or stay and play for the Crimson Tide under a new coaching staff.
Latham selected the second option.
“I ain’t ever been too much on trying to stray away from pressure,” Latham said. “I knew what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to come to Alabama coming out of high school, regardless of what everybody else did. I feel like, if I’m leaving now, what am I really doing? I’ve been here for four years and dedicated my whole life to this program, so why would I leave now and go to a whole ‘nother program. I feel like that’s not holding up my loyalty here just for the staff and the players in general.”
Latham wanted to remain loyal to Alabama after four seasons with the Crimson Tide. But he also realized that whether he stayed or left, he was going to have to introduce himself to new coaches regardless.
However, it did help that his position coach, Freddie Roach, made the transition over from the old staff to the new coaching staff under head coach Kalen DeBoer. Latham said Roach was one of the people that helped the players know that the Alabama program wasn’t going anywhere while all the transition and uncertainty was happening.
However, it did help that his position coach, Freddie Roach, made the transition over from the old staff to the new coaching staff under head coach Kalen DeBoer. Latham said Roach was one of the people that helped the players know that the Alabama program wasn’t going anywhere while all the transition and uncertainty was happening.
“At the end of the day, you committed to the University of Alabama, and the University of Alabama’s committed to you,” Roach told the players during the coaching search. “We’re gonna be alright regardless. When you have resources like this and an AD like Greg Byrne, you’re going to find the best football coaches out there. And that’s what we did.”
Working with the new coaches that have a different defensive scheme is allowing Latham to transition into a different role. Under Saban, Latham played as a pretty traditional defensive lineman. In new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s defense, Latham will play in the “Bandit” position as more of a hybrid between a defensive lineman and edge rusher.
Working with the new coaches that have a different defensive scheme is allowing Latham to transition into a different role. Under Saban, Latham played as a pretty traditional defensive lineman. In new defensive coordinator Kane Wommack’s defense, Latham will play in the “Bandit” position as more of a hybrid between a defensive lineman and edge rusher.
The fifth-year defender lost approximately 10 pounds this offseason, slimming down to better match his new role in the defense and changing his jersey number from 93 to 20. Latham has had to wait his turn at Alabama, appearing in only one game during his rookie season in 2020. He redshirted in 2021 after playing in only four games. In 2021, he made 12 appearances, and he played rotational minutes in all 14 games the previous year.
