Lane Kiffin’s transfer portal magic continues as Ole Miss wins back-and-forth game with a new, fun wrinkle on offense
What a win and what a debut for Trinidad Chambliss.
Austin Simmons was visibly hurt Saturday. His ankle was heavily taped and there was a noticeable limp. Insert Trinidad Chambliss. The Ferris State national champion turned Ole Miss starting quarterback put on a clinic against the Arkansas Razorbacks – helping the Rebels hold off a feisty Sam Pittman club, 41-35.
Arkansas outgained Ole Miss thanks to Taylen Green’s legs and a first half of mesh and shallow cross concepts which gave Rebels’ defensive coordinator Pete Golding nightmares. After some adjustments at halftime, though, the Ole Miss defense settled in, made plays, and got enough stops for Lane Kiffin’s April transfer portal pickup, Chambliss, to win it.
It was a gutsy performance for Ole Miss and one which showed the coaching staff a lot and what Chambliss can actually bring to the offense.
The story of the game is Trinidad Chambliss.
In his first ever start in an Ole Miss uniform, he finished 21-for-29 for 353 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. He also rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. It was a masterclass from Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr.
The Rebels did a phenomenal job mixing the run with the pass and not asking Chambliss to do too much. When Arkansas played cover zero, the Rebels took shots. And when things shifted to a cover two and the box lightened up, Chambliss and Kewan Lacy gobbled up yards. The duo combined for 106 yards and three touchdowns.
But the game was Chambliss’ coming out party. The former Ferris State quarterback was thought to be an insurance policy and a clipboard holder. Some thought maybe he would have some gadget plays but it was Austin Simmons’ team. Now it looks like Chambliss has a legitimate case to make Ole Miss very fun on offense while Simmons recovers from his ankle sprain.
Ole Miss Rebels News
Even with Austin Simmons being QB1 at Ole Miss, a Division II national champion chose to bet on himself
Ferris State quarterback Trinidad Chambliss knew what he was getting himself into. But, the national champion quarterback at the Division II level knew it was the best move for him and his future. When the talented transfer portal prospect chose Ole Miss, many questioned it due to Austin Simmons being the heir apparent to Jaxson […]
In limited snaps, Austin Simmons was gutsy.
Chambliss had to come out after his thumb started bleeding. Simmons trotted in and engineered a scoring drive in the red zone. Toughness was shown, he got a first down with his legs on a designed run, and found Harrison Wallace III in the end zone for the touchdown.
This has to be mentioned because it was a pivotal moment in the first half when Arkansas and Ole Miss were trading blows. Big ups to Simmons for gutting it out. After the touchdown, Simmons limped back to the sidelines and collapsed from the pain. His ankle was taped up again and again but it seems like he is going to be on the shelf for a week or two.
And that doesn’t seem like such a bad thing with the emergence of Chambliss. The kid outdueled a two-year SEC vet and Ole Miss is now 17-3 at home in SEC play under Lane Kiffin.
