Ole Miss, Pete Golding Lose Defensive Standout to LSU via Transfer Portal

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The LSU Tigers and new head coach Lane Kiffin entered the final day of the transfer window facing significant depth questions at linebacker but as the front-runners for one of the best players still available in the transfer portal on Friday.

Following the losses of Harold Perkins Jr. and West Weeks to the NFL draft, the Tigers had yet to sign a single player at the position through the current window.

The 2026 roster, at least before Friday, included a few returning contributors at linebacker, along with a plethora of true and redshirt freshmen that should take on larger roles next season but who lack SEC experience.

Meanwhile, Kiffin’s former school, the Ole Miss Rebels, saw more than a dozen players enter the portal after its run to the College Football Playoff semifinals. That included a key defensive starter from Pete Golding’s unit in redshirt junior linebacker TJ Dottery.

Dottery, who officially entered the portal late Wednesday night into Thursday morning, committed to LSU on Friday, giving the Tigers a much-needed veteran to fill the heart of their defense.

The Montgomery, Alabama, native started the last two seasons for the Rebels, recording 98 tackles in 2025 after completing 76 (42 solo) in 2024. Dottery wore the green dot as the unit’s on-field communicator and led Ole Miss in solo stops with 48 this past season.

Dottery is a former four-star recruit who began his career with the Clemson Tigers before transferring to Oxford in July 2023. After sitting out the first season, Dottery became a core figure in the Rebels’ defensive turnaround.

“Definitely a blessing, man,” Dottery said after the Rebels’ Fiesta Bowl loss to the Miami Hurricanes. “Just wanted to be whatever I could do to help the program keep going in that direction. And the fans, the team, I love them all.”

Nakos reported on Friday that Dottery would have a “multitude of options,” while noting that LSU had emerged as the early leader in his sweepstakes, with confirmation of the transfer coming shortly after.

Dottery arrives in Baton Rouge with one year of eligibility remaining and 176 total tackles as an SEC player.

Related: Ole Miss Loses No. 1 Available DL to College Football Transfer Portal

Related: Vanderbilt QB Diego Pavia Makes Career Decision After College Football Season

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jan 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos