How Ole Miss landed the quarterback nobody saw coming who has taken control of Lane Kiffin’s offense
Lane Kiffin and his staff had the coup of the 2025 transfer portal cycle.
Before Trinidad Chambliss was the starting quarterback for Ole Miss, he was a Division II All-American who led Ferris State to a 14-1 record and a national championship.
Once the season was over, his quarterback coach, Steve Calhoun, convinced him to look around for a bigger challenge. So, Chambliss hit the transfer portal and set his sights on something bigger. This something bigger turned out to be No. 11 Ole Miss and head coach Lane Kiffin turning him into one of the most fascinating stories in college football.
But, prior to joining the Rebels’ roster, there was plenty of drama, twist and turns, and finesse on the transfer portal recruiting trail. CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer and Richard Johnson did a deep dive on how the 6-foot, 200 pound signal caller ended up in Oxford.
Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss needed quarterback depth and found Trinidad Chambliss.
“We didn’t know what he’d turn out to be,” an Ole Miss source said of Chambliss. “Obviously, we thought he was good when we took him. But to say what he is now is what we thought he’d be when we took him would be incorrect.”
Others were interested as well before Chambliss became a Rebel. Ohio State and Minnesota reached out as well as New Mexico, Utah, and Western Kentucky. But one program had a leg up and almost landed the Ferris State superstar.
“Chambliss entered the portal on Thursday, April 10. The Owls offered within minutes of his name showing up in the database,” Hummer said. “They booked Chambliss and his family flights for a Monday official visit, two days after Ferris State’s national championship parade.
“The Owls felt good. They allotted $300,000 for Chambliss, a monumental sum for a Group of Six starting quarterback,” Hummer said. “Chambliss was going to be the foundational piece of K.C. Keeler’s Temple rebuild, a perfect fit for new offensive coordinator Tyler Walker’s run-heavy QB scheme.”
Ole Miss Rebels News
Lane Kiffin reveals how Ole Miss found Trinidad Chambliss and compares his transfer situation to Jaxson Dart
On this week’s SEC coaches teleconference, Lane Kiffin pulls back the transfer portal curtain.
Then, Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss entered the chat.
After whiffing on transfer quarterbacks like Anthony Colandrea and Beau Pribula, Kiffin and his staff kept combing the portal and discovered Chambliss. And once the staff took one look at the tape, it was a no-brainer.
“Temple had the visit scheduled for Monday, so the Rebels convinced Chambliss to visit Saturday in the hours after the parade,” Hummer said. “The Owls found out when an Ole Miss staffer called them to help set up a flight change for Chambliss and his family as the flight to Philadelphia would now come from Mississippi.
“Temple got a call from Chambliss on Sunday. He’d committed to the Rebels. Ole Miss’ contract offer was at least double Temple’s, per a source, as the going rate for a quality Power Four backup quarterback is $500,000-plus,” Hummer said. “There was an awareness in Chambliss’ camp that Simmons had the inside position for the starting job. But the Rebels sold Chambliss on the opportunity to compete.”
Trinidad Chambliss decided to bet on himself. And his family believed in Ole Miss.
“The family believed and loved what they heard,” Calhoun said. “To play in the SEC, play for Coach Kiffin and (offensive coordinator Charlie) Weis, two innovative offensive minds that fit Trinidad’s skillset, it was pretty much a no-brainer.”
Ole Miss came in and made a compelling offer and snagged him away from Temple.
“We knew what he was,” the Temple source said. “He was going to completely change our program. Ole Miss just sniped us.”
Belief is a powerful thing. Especially in sports.
“He really believes in his skill set and him as a player and a quarterback,” Calhoun said. “He feels he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. If you’re not thinking that way, then something’s wrong.”
Now, he is set to take on the 4th-ranked LSU Tigers Saturday and has a monumental opportunity to continue to add to the legacy. A legacy which has just about everyone paying attention.
Everyone can see Trinidad Chambliss now.
