Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is protecting all bases along with his soccer future in limbo.
Chambliss’ agent, Fletcher Smith III, informed The Athletic on Monday that his consumer’s clear choice can be to return to varsity soccer subsequent season, even after a request to have his eligibility prolonged was denied by the NCAA final week.
The NCAA’s ruling was handed down the day after Chambliss and Ole Miss had been eradicated from the Faculty Soccer Playoff within the semifinals by Miami. He has already spent 5 seasons in faculty (4 at Division II Ferris State and one at Ole Miss) and doesn’t must declare for the NFL Draft by the Jan. 14 deadline for underclassmen.
Ole Miss is submitting an attraction with the NCAA, which is unlikely to be determined this week. On a separate monitor, attorneys for Chambliss are anticipated to file a lawsuit in Mississippi court docket, difficult the NCAA’s eligibility guidelines, as quickly as later this week.
And, with NFL Draft preparation season additionally looming, Chambliss additionally must be ready to go that route.
“We’re shifting ahead below the premise that he’s been denied (eligibility) in order that he can at the very least start to organize mentally for the NFL and the pre-draft course of, together with the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Sport,” Smith stated. “After which coaching for the mix if these are the following steps, whereas concurrently pursuing the appeals course of with the NCAA.”
The school all-star video games are scheduled for the final week of January, and the NFL mix begins in late February. Smith stated Chambliss has loads of time to start that coaching, and he suggested the quarterback to take this week off after a protracted season.
Smith stated Chambliss intends to graduate from Ole Miss and can be enrolled in school and dealing towards his diploma even when he can’t play faculty soccer subsequent yr.
“As we sit right here at this time, the purpose can be for Trinidad to return to Ole Miss subsequent yr,” Smith added.
Final week, earlier than the NCAA’s ruling was handed down, Chambliss agreed to a income sharing deal to return to Ole Miss if he can play one other season of faculty soccer. It’s unknown precisely how a lot Chambliss would make, however high quarterbacks within the switch portal this cycle have been receiving offers within the $4-5 million vary. An individual conversant in Chambliss’ deal informed The Athletic the quarterback can be among the many highest paid in faculty soccer subsequent yr. The particular person spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of nobody was approved to talk publicly about Chambliss’ settlement with Ole Miss.
NFL rookies drafted within the first spherical obtain four-year offers with ensures often exceeding $16 million whole, based on Spotrac.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Chambliss is within the means of gathering extra details about his draft inventory, however he doesn’t appear more likely to be a first-round prospect after one season as a starter in Division I.
Gamers chosen exterior the primary spherical additionally obtain four-year offers, which may be value as much as $13 million for top second-round draft picks, however the quantity of assured cash concerned is often far decrease. Rookie salaries for gamers chosen within the second spherical or later begin at round $2.3 million. Chambliss would nearly definitely exceed that with Ole Miss subsequent yr.
Chambliss turned an unlikely star within the SEC this season after transferring to Ole Miss from Ferris State, the place he led the crew to a D-II nationwide title in 2024. He took over three video games into Ole Miss’ season after an harm to beginning quarterback Austin Simmons and led the Rebels to their first CFP look, throwing for 3,937 yards, 22 touchdowns and two interceptions. Ole Miss fell to Miami 31-27 within the Fiesta Bowl final week.
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler stated Chambliss’ sensational season has established him as a draftable prospect.
The NCAA stated final week Ole Miss had not supplied the required documentation to indicate that Chambliss had an harm or sickness that prevented him from taking part in at Ferris State through the 2022-23 soccer season.
Whereas the NCAA cited the bylaw at play in denying the waiver request, Mars has stated a unique bylaw needs to be utilized.
Smith stated in his expertise appeals can result in extra nuanced resolution making by the NCAA’s lecturers and eligibility committee.
“We expect on the attraction, we should always win,” Smith stated. “And if we don’t then we’ll go that third route, which is injunctive reduction.”
Mars informed ESPN that he and Mississippi-based legal professional William Liston are able to file a lawsuit, and request a preliminary injunction that might clear the best way for Chambliss to play subsequent season whereas the case strikes by means of the courts.
Liston is without doubt one of the founders of the Grove Collective, the group that works with Ole Miss athletes on identify, picture and likeness compensation offers.
The NCAA is going through quite a few lawsuits difficult varied eligibility guidelines, although most have been filed in federal courts and claimed antitrust violations. Chambliss’ case would focus primarily on whether or not the NCAA guidelines can override a contract between participant and faculty.
No matter jurisdiction, circumstances take a very long time to progress, however a preliminary injunction can present rapid reduction for athletes making an attempt to stay eligible. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia performed this previous season after a federal choose in Tennessee granted him a preliminary injunction associated to a lawsuit he filed in 2024. Pavia challenged the NCAA’s guidelines associated to counting junior faculty years towards eligibility. A trial date has nonetheless not been set in that case.
Ole Miss can be making ready for a number of outcomes in Chambliss’ case. The Rebels landed a dedication from Auburn switch quarterback Deuce Knight, a former five-star recruit from Mississippi, giving the them some insurance coverage if Chambliss doesn’t return and a possible substitute in 2027.
