Where did Trinidad Chambliss play D2 football? Revisiting Ferris State career before Ole Miss transfer

Morgan Moriarty

Where did Trinidad Chambliss play D2 football? Revisiting Ferris State career before Ole Miss transfer image

JUMP TO


Prior to becoming Ole Miss’ star quarterback and leading the school to the College Football Playoff, Trinidad Chambliss played Division II college football. Originally from Grand Rapids, Mich., Chambliss was an unrated recruit coming out of high school and started his college career at Ferris State due to a lack of Division I offers.

He spent four seasons under longtime Ferris State coach Tony Anesse, although he was the team’s starter for only one season. Here’s a look back at Chambliss’ Ferris State career before arriving at Ole Miss.

MORE: How Trinidad Chambliss went from Ferris State to SEC's 2025 breakout star

Where did Trinidad Chambliss play D2 football?

Trinidad Chambliss played DII football at Ferris State. The program is led by head coach Tony Annese, who first arrived at the program in 2012. He's taken the program to new heights, including back-to-back national titles in 2021 and 2022, and two other consecutive national championships in 2024 and 2025, the latter of which was won by Chambliss under center. 

Over his 13 seasons with the Bulldogs, Annese has compiled an impressive 153-21 record. He has also helped Ferris State take home seven GLIAC titles, including its first since 1999. The Bulldogs also reached the national title game in 2018.  

MORE: What do Ole Miss fans mean when they say "Hotty Toddy"

Where is Ferris State?

Ferris State is located in Big Rapids, Mich., about 56 miles north of Grand Rapids, where Chambliss grew up. In high school, Chambliss played both basketball and football for Forest Hills High School in Grand Rapids. As a senior in 2020-21, he helped lead his basketball team to a state semifinal appearance.

He signed with Ferris State’s class of 2021 but didn’t see significant playing time until his junior season in 2024.

MORE: More on Trinidad Chambliss' Michigan roots

Trinidad Chambliss stats at Ferris State

SeasonGamesComp %Pass YdsTDINTRush YdsRush TDS
2023-24863.60354513044
2024-251561.602,9252661,01925

Chambliss became the Bulldogs' starter in 2024, and helped lead Ferris State to a national title. He threw for 2,925 with 26 touchdowns and just six interceptions, and Ferris State defeated Valdosta State 49-14 in the title game. Chambliss threw three touchdowns passes and rushed for another two in the win. 

Ferris State national championship teams

Chambliss was part of two national championship teams as a backup quarterback in 2021 and 2022. He led Ferris State to its third national title in four seasons as the starter in 2024. 

Ferris State's strong reputation has continued since Chambliss left for Ole Miss. The 2025 Bulldogs finished as national champs with a perfect 16-0 record, capped off with a 42-21 win over Harding in the national title game. 

MORE: Meet Pete Golding, the man that replaced Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss

When did Trinidad Chambliss leave Ferris State?

Although he received an influx of interest from schools after winning a national title for Ferris State in mid-December 2024, Chambliss didn't enter the winter transfer portal window.

But as more schools started reaching out and offering him life-changing NIL opportunities in the spring, he saw it as an opportunity he couldn't pass up. He entered the spring transfer portal window—which has since been limited by the NCAA to just one window in January—in April 2025. He committed to Ole Miss and the Rebels a couple of weeks later.

He even began the 2025 season behind Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons but earned the starting job after Simmons got injured in Week 3. He's thrown for a career-high 3,660 yards with 21 touchdowns and three interceptions at Ole Miss.

Content Producer

Contributing Writer