Legacy kept Trinidad Chambliss, Kewan Lacy at Ole Miss amid Lane Kiffin absconsion
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Lane Kiffin recruited Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy to Ole Miss in the transfer portal prior to the 2025 season, before the backfield duo became two of the best offensive players in college football.
And when Kiffin was assembling his LSU roster – one that includes multiple former Ole Miss players – Chambliss and Lacy opted to stay in Oxford, Mississippi, instead of following their former coach and his high-powered offense.
When No. 9 Ole Miss hosts No. 7 LSU on Saturday, Sept. 19, the quarterback-running back tandem will be a point of emphasis for the Tigers’ defense. Beating LSU would also certainly stamp their approval as all-time players in school history.
So why did the duo stay at Ole Miss instead of following their former coach and scheme to LSU? Here’s why Chambliss and Lacy decided to cement their legacy with the Rebels, rather than transferring for the second time:
Why did Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy stay at Ole Miss?
Ole Miss coach Pete Golding met with Chambliss and Lacy in his office shortly after Kiffin left for LSU before the College Football Playoff. Golding had a simple ask for the two stars.
"Just google 'Lane Kiffin,'" Golding told ESPN. "A dude that they would have built a statue of here three days ago. Google his name right now. They wouldn't piss on him if he was on fire, right? And so they're going to do the same thing to y'all two if you do what?"
Chambliss and Lacy said their conversation with Golding – who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach following Kiffin’s exit – helped them understand what kind of legacy they could form if they stayed at Ole Miss.
"(It) most definitely (made a difference)," Lacy said. "That just put it in perspective of legacy. What do you want your name to be? You can follow a coach. He could play you. But it's your legacy and you are going on the field. It's what you want out of it."
Chambliss agreed.
"It's what you want when you're playing the game that you love to leave your mark on the institution and the program and on people that surround you with great support," Chambliss said. "That's the fanbase, the coaches, people that have worked you out. Personal coaches. Strength coaches."
Chambliss also revealed he bought a house in Oxford over the offseason. He said he plans to rent out the house near campus during his NFL career and keep it when he comes to visit his school.
And while former Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. also followed Kiffin to LSU, it helped for Chambliss having quarterbacks coach Joe Judge, the former New York Giants head coach, stay with the Rebels.
Did Trinidad Chambliss consider transferring to LSU?
Chambliss said he gave thought to leaving Ole Miss and transferring to LSU in the offseason, noting the continuity with the offensive staff. He never entered the transfer portal, but considered it.
“I mean, there were discussions,” he told On3 in May. “There were thoughts. I’m not going to lie about that because you have to understand what my circumstance was. I had just transferred here. My offensive coordinator was Coach Weis. I had just learned that system. He was leaving, and they were taking most of the offensive guys.
“I didn’t know who was going to be our head coach at the time. I didn’t know who was going to be the OC. There were just a lot of unknowns and question marks. So, yes, those thoughts were there, but once we went with (Golding), it didn’t take me too long to decide. I was all Ole Miss.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Legacy kept Trinidad Chambliss, Kewan Lacy at Ole Miss amid Lane Kiffin absconsion
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