Clemson’s trip to LSU in Week 1 already has no shortage of angles, and former Tigers linebacker T.J. Dottery adds another layer to the matchup.
Dottery, who was known as T.J. Dudley while at Clemson, spent a season in the program before moving on.
He redshirted as a freshman, then transferred to Ole Miss to play for Lane Kiffin. When Kiffin left to take over at LSU, Dottery followed him again, setting up a full-circle return to face the school he once called home.
Now at LSU, the Montgomery, Ala., native still had plenty of respect for Clemson when he spoke Thursday at SEC Media Days in Tampa, Fla. He said the Tigers will be a tough out in Baton Rouge.
“A disciplined team, especially under coach Swinney, a disciplined, well-rounded team full of talent,” he said. ‘And, of course, some of the guys that played last year, a lot of the returning guys played them last year, so they know what to look for.”
Dottery’s Clemson exit carried more baggage than a normal transfer. He was dismissed from the program, and head coach Dabo Swinney described it as a “disappointing situation” tied to a violation of team rules.
Even so, Dottery said the relationship with Swinney remains intact.
“I had a great time at Clemson,” Dottery said. “Built some great relationships with coaches and staff.
I can even call Coach Swinney now. We can talk right now.
He's awesome.”
Dottery also played a role in the transfer dominoes involving Luke Ferrelli, who moved from Cal to Clemson before flipping to Ole Miss despite already being enrolled in classes. Late in the transfer portal window, Ferrelli decided to follow Kiffin to Baton Rouge.
That move forced Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding to adjust, and Clemson wound up losing one of the players it had landed in the class to an SEC program.
With Kiffin making his LSU debut, Dottery expects the Tigers to handle the opener with a steady approach. He doesn’t anticipate the emotions taking over.
“I don't think the emotions would be too high,” Dottery said. “Just another opportunity to play football.”
In Other News...
Another Former Clemson Starter Is Back Inside The Program
Ryan Linthicum is back around Clemson in a different role, joining the football staff as an offensive player development intern with a focus on the offensive line. It is a familiar move for a former starter who spent five seasons with the Tigers, then left school with a resume that included 27 straight starts across his final two years and plenty of game-day experience in the middle of the line.
His return also fits a broader pattern inside the program, where several former Tigers are already on staff and helping shape the next wave of players. Linthicums path from recent starter to coach came after his playing career wound down, and his presence adds another layer of Clemson continuity to a staff that keeps leaning on people who know what the standard looks like inside the building. [Read more 🡒]
Ole Miss Coach Fires Back Again In Clemson Transfer Controversy
Ole Miss coach Pete Golding took questions again at SEC Media Days and made clear he sees the Luke Ferrelli transfer issue through the lens of a recruiting system he believes is under constant strain. Golding pointed to his compliance department and framed the situation as part of the competitive reality of college football, where programs are forced to navigate rules that can feel murky even before a dispute reaches the public stage.
For Clemson, the broader significance is less about one coachs defense and more about the unresolved tension surrounding the move and the scrutiny now attached to it. Golding acknowledged the ongoing investigations involving Clemson, Ole Miss and the NCAA, while also using the moment to argue that the current recruiting landscape puts schools in a difficult spot when they are trying to keep pace with everyone else. [Read more 🡒]