Trinidad Chambliss: Division II Ferris State to breakout star at Ole Miss - ESPN

OXFORD, Miss. — The day the spring transfer portal opened for Division II football players in April, Ole Miss co-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. was glued to the computer screen in his office, watching highlights of then-Ferris State quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.

When Weis wanted to confirm that he was really seeing what he thought he was seeing, he called in quarterbacks coach Joe Judge.

Then, just to make sure they were both right about Chambliss' ability, they brought in co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Joe Cox for further confirmation.

«We better get Coach Kiffin,» one of them said.

As Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin watched Chambliss scrambling and throwing deep balls, he saw the traits of someone familiar: former Miami quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 pick in April's NFL draft. The Rebels had recruited Ward when he left FCS program Incarnate Word after the 2021 season and believed he was coming to Ole Miss. But Ward signed with Washington State after it hired Incarnate Word coach Eric Morris as its offensive coordinator. Ward spent two seasons with the Cougars before playing his final one at Miami, where he was an All-American.

«By the time we were done watching the whole thing, there's about 12 people in there, like at a watch party,» Kiffin said.

Chambliss, who led Ferris State to a 14-1 record and its third Division II national championship in four seasons in 2024, was scheduled to visit Temple that week.

«Get him on the phone,» Kiffin told his assistants. «He's flying here tonight.»

Chambliss arrived at Ole Miss soon thereafter, and Kiffin and the others sold him on a chance to compete with Austin Simmons for the starting quarterback job and playing against the best teams in the SEC. After receiving