Trinidad Chambliss

There may not be a quarterback in this class with a more improbable rise than Trinidad Chambliss.

A Grand Rapids, Michigan native, Chambliss starred at Forest Hills Northern High School but barely registered on the Division I recruiting radar in 2020. With offers limited to junior colleges and Division III programs, he landed at Ferris State on a partial scholarship worth roughly $6,000 per year. He redshirted in 2021, barely played as a sophomore, and entered the 2024 season as anything but a sure thing.

Then everything changed.

After throwing two interceptions in the season opener, Chambliss seized the starting role and authored one of the most dominant seasons in Division II history. He passed for 2,901 yards and 26 touchdowns, rushed for 1,019 yards and 25 more scores, and led Ferris State to a 49–14 national championship win over Valdosta State. The accolades followed: GLIAC Player of the Year, AP and AFCA First-Team All-American, and a third-place finish for the Harlon Hill Trophy.

When the transfer portal opened in April 2025, Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. saw the tape and made an immediate call. Lane Kiffin and the Rebels saw shades of Cam Ward: sudden athleticism, fearless scrambling, and a live arm capable of creating explosives off-script. Ole Miss moved fast, beating out more than a dozen suitors to bring Chambliss to Oxford.

Originally penciled in as the backup, Chambliss took over in Week 3 after Austin Simmons went down with an ankle injury—and never gave the job back.

SEC Validation

Chambliss’ transition from Division II to the SEC was smoother than anyone expected. In his first start, he torched Arkansas for 353 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Over his next nine starts, he posted six 300-yard passing games, became the first SEC quarterback in 30 years with three straight games of 300 passing and 50 rushing yards, and guided Ole Miss to an 11–1 record with legitimate CFP aspirations.

He finished the 2025 regular season with:

• 3,016 passing yards

• 470 rushing yards

• 18 passing TDs / 6 rushing TDs

• Only 2 interceptions

• 348.6 total yards per game

His 359-yard, four-touchdown Egg Bowl performance earned SEC Offensive Player of the Week honors and cemented him as one of the most fascinating quarterbacks in the class. Despite just 10 starts, he emerged as a dark-horse Heisman candidate and Maxwell Award semifinalist.

SCOUTING REPORT: STRENGTHS

Dynamic Athlete with Rare Speed
Legitimate 4.4 speed shows up immediately. Designed runs and scrambles turn into chunk plays.

High-End Vertical Arm
Can launch deep balls 40+ yards with velocity and touch, stressing single-high coverage consistently.

Natural Play Extender
Instinctively flushes pressure while keeping eyes downfield; dangerous when plays break down.

Composed Under Pressure
Delivers in high-leverage moments; clutch on third and fourth down late in games.

Quick Post-Snap Processing
Decisive once the picture clears; doesn’t freeze against SEC-level disguise.

Physical Runner
Runs with edge and toughness between the tackles, falling forward for extra yards.

Excellent Ball Security as a Runner
Zero fumbles lost on 118 carries—remarkable given his contact-heavy style.

Leadership Presence
Earned trust quickly in a veteran locker room despite limited FBS experience.

SCOUTING REPORT: WEAKNESSES

Durability Concerns
At roughly 200 pounds, his willingness to absorb hits raises long-term questions.

Inconsistent Pocket Accuracy
Short and intermediate throws can spray; timing routes lose rhythm.

Limited High-End Sample Size
Only one SEC season after Division II dominance creates projection risk.

Poor Layering Over the Middle
Struggles to drop throws over linebackers into tight windows with anticipation.

Structure Discipline
Too quick to abandon clean pockets when first read isn’t immediately available.

FINAL SKOL TAKE

Chambliss is not a franchise savior—and shouldn’t be evaluated like one.

He’s a developmental quarterback with real dual-threat upside, the kind teams target on Day 3 hoping to cultivate value rather than force outcomes. The athleticism is undeniable. The deep ball pops. The competitiveness is obvious. And the jump from Division II to the SEC proved he’s not overwhelmed by speed or pressure.

But refinement is required.

He needs to:

• Add functional weight

• Learn when not to fight for extra yards

• Trust structure over improvisation

• Clean up pocket accuracy and anticipation

His scrambling instinct is both his superpower and his limiter. When he escapes and hits a receiver 35 yards downfield, you see why teams will draft him. When he bails from a clean pocket on third-and-medium, you see why patience is necessary.

Draft Range: Mid-to-late Day 3
Ideal Role: Developmental QB2 in a spread or RPO-heavy offense
Ceiling: High-end backup who can win games in stretches
Floor: Athletic reserve with situational utility

Chambliss’ story is already remarkable. His NFL future will depend on whether he can pair that rare athletic juice with discipline and durability. If he does, don’t be surprised if he’s still around—and still relevant—three years from now.