Twenty-Two Names to Know for the Ole Miss Season: No. 13 TJ Dottery

OXFORD, Miss. – As we lead up to week one in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the kickoff of Ole Miss football’s 2024 season, The Rebel Walk team is highlighting 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 take a look at linebacker, TJ Dottery. 

Today, we take a look at the No. 13 player on our list, linebacker TJ Dottery

Just before the start of the 2023 college football season, TJ Dottery (then known as TJ Dudley) transferred to Ole Miss from Clemson. Although he was a blue-chip prospect coming out of high school, Dottery played scout team for the Rebels while waiting NCAA clearance. Following his clearance and subsequent Peach Bowl performance, Dottery is poised for a breakout year.

How did TJ Dottery get to Ole Miss?

Coming out of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School as a 4-star-rated prospect, Dottery committed and signed his letter of intent to play for the Clemson Tigers in 2022. Following a redshirt freshman year at Clemson, Dottery chose to enter the transfer portal on July 19th, 2023. Just over a week later, the Alabama native found a new home as he decided to make the transfer to Oxford, Mississippi.

Ole Miss lands former four-star Clemson transfer linebacker T.J. Dudley

The versatile linebacker had to sit out due to NCAA transfer rules for a majority of year one at Ole Miss, finding his role at practice to still help the 2023 squad.

Career Outlook

Appearing in four games for Clemson in 2022, Dottery played just 16 total snaps while recording a pair of tackles along the way. The linebacker played the minimum of games to redshirt before entering the transfer portal following his first collegiate season.

Dottery did not gain eligibility for the Rebels until the Peach Bowl at the end of 2023. The redshirt freshman recorded a pair of tackles along with a QB hurry in the Bowl win, impressing Rebel fans and football watchers around the country.

Clemson transfer linebacker TJ Dudley is dressed and warming up for #OleMiss pic.twitter.com/1Myfoue3ZW

— Brad Logan (@BradLoganCOTE) December 30, 2023

Following a big overhaul on the defensive side of the ball for Ole Miss during the 2024 offseason, Dottery is one of the few familiar faces still in the lineup. After showing out in the spring camp of 2024 earlier this year, the Rebel sophomore defender looks to show the college football world what he is capable of with a full season of playing time.

Fall Camp and the 2024 season

So far, Dottery has been one of the more impressive defenders in my eyes since the start of fall camp just a few weeks ago. The middle linebacker can be used all over the field, and the size-speed combination speaks for itself.

Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding took the podium a few weeks ago, stating that a player such as Dottery should be destined for a breakout year within the Landshark defense. It is also worth noting that Dottery is one of the select players on the defensive side of the ball who has been working with the helmet technology earpiece inside their helmets so far in camp.

With the 2024 season just under two weeks away from kickoff, Dottery could be one of the unsung leaders within the Golding defense. The Rebel inside-backer is my pick for breakout defender of the year, and I would not be surprised if Dottery becomes one of the best linebackers in the country throughout the 2024 season.

On August 31st, 2024, Dottery and his Rebel teammates return to the gridiron as they host the Furman Paladins inside Vaught-Hemingway stadium for the opening game of the 2024 college football season.