Luke Ferrelli's Transfer to Ole Miss Draws Scrutiny, But His Former Coach Says He's Built for the Spotlight
Luke Ferrelli isn’t just another name in the transfer portal shuffle. The former Cal linebacker has found himself in the middle of a high-profile controversy, with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney accusing Ole Miss-and defensive coordinator Pete Golding-of tampering after Ferrelli flipped his commitment from the Tigers to the Rebels.
The NCAA is reportedly looking into the allegations, which stem from claims that Golding contacted Ferrelli while he was already enrolled at Clemson. If proven, the consequences could be significant for Ole Miss. But while the off-field noise grows louder, those who know Ferrelli best believe he’s more than ready to rise above the drama.
One of them is Thadd MacNeal, Ferrelli’s head coach at Carlsbad High School in Southern California-a program known for producing top-tier talent. MacNeal has coached plenty of elite athletes, and he’s seen firsthand what sets Ferrelli apart.
“Great work ethic, he’s pretty focused, and he’s just really learning what he can do,” MacNeal said. “He’s got a lot to prove, man… I expect him to be very humble.
I told him, ‘This is all done now. Grab your lunch bucket, whatever phrase you like, and just go to work.
Go to school, go to work, show everybody how good you can be.’”
Ferrelli’s journey to Oxford has been anything but ordinary. After a breakout redshirt freshman season at Cal-where he started 13 games and racked up 91 tackles, second-most on the team-he entered the transfer portal. Initially, he committed to Clemson, but ultimately chose to play for Golding and Ole Miss.
Despite his production at Cal, Ferrelli didn’t generate much buzz in the portal. He was ranked the No. 70 linebacker transfer nationally by 247Sports and slotted in as the 24th-best player in Ole Miss’ 29-man transfer class. But if you ask MacNeal, the rankings don’t tell the whole story.
“You’re talking about a kid that’s 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, that can run a legit 4.6 (in the 40-yard dash)-and he’s gone under that before,” MacNeal said. “He can vertical leap 38 inches. So all the measurables are there.”
That athleticism was on full display back at Carlsbad, where Ferrelli wasn’t just a defensive standout-he was a two-way force. While he was recruited primarily as a linebacker, MacNeal didn’t hesitate to use him at tight end as well.
“I’ve always had the philosophy-I don’t want one of my best players standing next to me on the sideline,” MacNeal said.
Ferrelli’s senior year was a turning point. He played all over the field-linebacker, edge rusher, tight end-and rarely came off it. That versatility helped fuel his rise as a recruit, even if the national spotlight didn’t fully catch on.
“He played well in big games,” MacNeal said, recalling a standout performance against powerhouse Mater Dei in 2023. “Senior year, it was a mentality we set where you’re not coming out of the game.
This is how it is. So buckle up.”
Ferrelli also shared the field with some serious talent, including his high school quarterback Julian Sayin, who just wrapped up a stellar season at Ohio State and finished fourth in Heisman voting. That kind of environment helped shape Ferrelli into the competitor he is today.
Now, he steps into a new chapter at Ole Miss, carrying both expectations and controversy with him. But if MacNeal’s confidence in his former player is any indication, Ferrelli isn’t just ready for the challenge-he’s built for it.
“He’s just scratching the surface,” MacNeal said. And with a fresh start in Oxford, Ferrelli has every opportunity to show just how high his ceiling really is.