Ole Miss linebacker Luke Ferrelli did not come out with the Rebels to start the second half against Auburn on Oct. 31, after leaving the game early in the first half.
No. 12 Ole Miss was up 14-9 at halftime against the Tigers, and Ferrelli had already spent time on the sideline on an exercise bike before briefly going into the medical tent. He was back on the bike shortly before the break.
Ferrelli entered the game against Auburn and started, but he was out of action early. Before leaving, he recorded two tackles, including one tackle for loss.
The Rebels listed Ferrelli on the availability report Oct. 30 as probable with an unspecified injury, then removed him from the report before kickoff.
Ferrelli is usually the second starting linebacker for Ole Miss alongside Keaton Thomas, with Tah'j Butler also rotating in frequently.
The junior linebacker came into the week ranked No. 2 on the team with 44 tackles. He also had half a sack and one pass breakup.
Ferrelli’s name had already surfaced in a separate storyline earlier this year, when Clemson coach Dabo Swinney made a detailed tampering accusation involving Ole Miss and coach Pete Golding during a January press conference.
Swinney said Ole Miss contacted Ferrelli even though he was already enrolled at Clemson as a transfer from Cal. He said Golding texted Ferrelli during an 8 a.m. class at Clemson with the message, "I know you're signed.
What's the buyout?" along with a picture of a $1 million contract.
Swinney also said former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and current quarterback Trinidad Chambliss contacted Ferrelli before he re-entered the transfer portal and signed with the Rebels.
An NCAA investigation is ongoing, and tampering can rise to a Level I violation, the NCAA’s most serious misconduct threshold.
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