TJ Dottery: ‘It’s Important to Show We’re Still the Same and Might Be Better’ as Rebels Defense Dominates Georgia State 63–7
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss left no doubt it was ready to play in the season opener Saturday night, rolling past Georgia State 63–7 in front of a packed crowd at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. While the Rebels’ offense fired on all cylinders, it was the defensive performance — led in part by returning linebacker TJ Dottery — that helped set the tone for a team with high hopes.
For Dottery, one of the few returning starters on defense, the message behind the blowout was simple: this group is ready to prove people wrong.
“Very important, for us, for confidence, to overcome a lot of doubt. A lot of people said we lost a lot. So it’s very important to show that we’re still the same and might be better.”
TJ Dottery on the new-look defense
With a revamped defensive unit that includes transfers and underclassmen stepping into major roles, Ole Miss held Georgia State to just one score and only 261 yards of total offense. But it was the veteran Dottery who was the leading tackler for the Rebels, tallying nine tackles with five solo.
After the game, he said what stood out most wasn’t just the execution—it was the energy.
“The excitement and hunger… just to play football. Whether we’re at practice or in the games or when we scrimmage, like you can truly see this group just loves to play football and are just happy to be out there.”
TJ Dottery
That enthusiasm was on full display—not just between the whistles, but on the sidelines as well. Defensive lineman Zxavian Harris grabbed the spotlight when he celebrated intercepting Georgia State QB Christian Veilleux. The 6-foot-8, 330-pound Harris dunked on the goal on the sidelines and was so powerful, he literally broke the goal.
Dottery, watching nearby, gave the move his full approval.
“I gave him a 50. 50 points, you feel me? 10 out of 10,” Dottery said with a laugh. “That was crazy. I have never seen that happen before.”
Offensively, Missouri transfer running back Kewan Lacy had a breakout night, rushing for three touchdowns and showing the burst and balance that have drawn attention since the spring. Dottery said he saw that potential early.
“Even from the first day he came in and when I was watching him during the spring when I was out, he just had a different type of spark, just juice and energy.”
TJ Dottery on Kewan Lacy
With a dominant win now in the books, Ole Miss shifts its attention to its conference opener: a road matchup against Kentucky this coming Saturday. The Rebels memorably dropped a gut-wrencher to the Wildcats last year (which, in the long run, proved to be devastating for the team’s playoff hopes), and for Dottery—who played in that game—the memory still stings.
“Individually, probably right now,” he said when asked how soon the team would turn the page. “That was huge, especially being one of the only returners. So, I was there and playing. I have that taste in my mouth.”
There’s no doubt the Rebels gave the fans in Oxford reason for optimism Saturday night. But for Dottery and the Ole Miss defense, the bigger tests—and opportunities—are still ahead.
Jacob Quaglino
Jacob is a New Orleans, LA native and Ole Miss alumni, Class of 2024 and staff writer with The Rebel Walk. He has been a diehard fan of all Ole Miss sports his entire life, with his earliest Ole Miss sports memory being the Rebels' iconic 2008 upset of then-No. 4 Florida. Among his other favorite Rebel sports memories are storming the field after beating LSU in 2023 and Georgia in 2024, watching the Rebels upset Alabama in back to back years in 2014-15, seeing the women's golf team win the school's first-ever NCAA-recognized national championship in 2021, and watching the Rebel baseball team win the College World Series in 2022. He remains exceedingly hopeful that the Ole Miss Athletics Department's national championship trophy collection will grow in the coming years. Outside of The Rebel Walk, Jacob also works for a local radio news station and has many interests and hobbies, including reading, writing, watching college sports, playing pickleball, and traveling.
