Ole Miss is heading into the offseason with more questions than answers, and one of the biggest developments involves linebacker TJ Dottery, who has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Dottery was a centerpiece of the Rebels’ defense in 2025, leading the team with 98 total tackles, including 48 solo stops. He was a consistent force in the middle of the field, adding 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pair of pass breakups to round out a stat line that speaks to his all-around impact. Simply put, Dottery was the engine of Lane Kiffin’s defense - a sideline-to-sideline playmaker who anchored the unit from start to finish.
Now, he’s on the move.
Dottery has become a sought-after name in the portal, and it’s not hard to see why. He started every game for Ole Miss in 2025 and brought leadership, physicality, and a nose for the football. His production alone makes him one of the most intriguing defensive players available this cycle.
But there’s more to the story.
Before his breakout at Ole Miss, Dottery was known by a different name - TJ Dudley. He began his college career at Clemson, where he was dismissed from the program for violating team rules.
The details of that dismissal were never officially disclosed, but the situation resurfaced on social media following his entry into the portal. Online chatter linked Dudley to allegations involving inappropriate conduct in the locker room during his time at Clemson.
Though never confirmed publicly by the school or the NCAA, the rumors have followed him.
After sitting out the 2023 regular season due to NCAA transfer rules, Dottery emerged in 2024 as a key figure in the Rebels’ defense. He quickly earned a starting role and developed into one of the SEC’s most productive linebackers, helping Ole Miss reach the College Football Playoff. But with the season now over, he’s looking for a new opportunity - and despite the controversy, multiple top programs are reportedly in pursuit.
This isn’t the only blow Ole Miss has taken since their CFP exit. The Rebels also learned that quarterback Trinidad Chambliss had his waiver for an extra year of eligibility denied by the NCAA. Chambliss and his legal team are now preparing to take the fight to Mississippi state court, seeking a preliminary injunction that would allow him to play in 2026.
For a program that just made a serious postseason run, the last few weeks have been anything but smooth. Between Dottery’s departure and Chambliss’ eligibility battle, Ole Miss is facing a pivotal stretch that could shape the trajectory of its 2026 campaign.
There’s no denying the talent that’s come through Oxford - and Dottery’s rise is a prime example. But as the Rebels regroup and reload, the spotlight now turns to how they’ll respond to a turbulent offseason start.