OXFORD, miss. – As we prepare for the first week at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to kick off the 2024 Ole Miss football season, The Rebel Gang Team highlights one player each day for our Ole Miss 22 rankings. We’ll break down who they are, how they got here, and what we expect from each. Today we’re taking a look at linebackers, TJ Dottery.
Today we take a look at player No. 13 on our list, linebacker TJ Dottery
Shortly before the start of the 2023 college football season TJ Dottery (then known as TJ Dudley) transferred from Clemson to Ole Miss. Although he was a promising prospect coming out of high school, Dottery played as a scout for the Rebels while awaiting NCAA clearance. Following his clearance and subsequent performance in the Peach Bowl, Dottery is poised to have a breakout year this year.
How did TJ Dottery come to Ole Miss?
Dottery left Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School as a 4-star talent and committed to play for the Clemson Tigers in 2022. After a redshirt freshman year at Clemson, Dottery decided to enter the transfer portal on July 19, 2023. Just over a week later, the Alabama native found a new home when he decided to move to Oxford, Mississippi.
Ole Miss signs former four-star Clemson linebacker TJ Dudley
The versatile linebacker sat out most of his freshman year at Ole Miss due to NCAA transfer rules, but found a role in practice that will still help him help the 2023 team.
Career prospects
Dottery appeared in four games for Clemson in 2022, playing just 16 total snaps and recording a pair of tackles. The linebacker played the minimum number of games to earn a redshirt before entering the transfer portal after his freshman season of college.
Dottery was not eligible to play for the Rebels until the Peach Bowl in late 2023. The redshirt freshman recorded two tackles and a QB hurry in the bowl win, impressing Rebel fans and football spectators across the country.
Clemson transfer linebacker TJ Dudley is dressed and warming up for #OleMiss pic.twitter.com/1Myfoue3ZW
– Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) December 30, 2023
After a major restructure of Ole Miss’ defensive line in the 2024 offseason, Dottery is one of the few familiar faces still in the lineup. After showing off in 2024 spring camp earlier this year, the Rebels’ second-year defensive lineman is looking to show the college football world what he can do with a full season of playing time.
Fall camp and season 2024
Dottery has been one of the more impressive defenders in my eyes since fall camp began a few weeks ago. The middle linebacker can be used all over the field and the combination of size and speed speaks for itself.
Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding took the podium a few weeks ago and explained that a player like Dottery was set to have an outstanding year in the Landshark defense. It’s also worth noting that Dottery is one of the select players on the defensive side of the ball who has worked with the helmet technology earpiece in his helmets so far in camp.
With less than two weeks to go before the start of the 2024 season, Dottery could be one of the unsung leaders in Golding’s defense. The Rebels’ inside back is my favorite for defensive lineman of the year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Dottery becomes one of the best linebackers in the country during the 2024 season.
On August 31, 2024, Dottery and his Rebel teammates will return to the field when they host the Furman Paladins at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the opening game of the 2024 college football season.
Cameron Wicker
Kam is a student at Ole Miss and is currently pursuing a degree in journalism. Although he is from Delhi, Louisiana, that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a diehard Ole Miss fan. He is a sports guru who watches and follows all sports at all times. He was a four-year high school football and baseball player and is an avid fan of the Saints, Pelicans and Astros. In his free time, he can be found watching or participating in sporting events at the recreation center.
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