Trinidad Chambliss 2026 scouting report: What happens if Mississippi QB's waiver is denied?

Anthony Licciardi

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Trinidad Chambliss 2026 scouting report: What happens if Mississippi QB's waiver is denied? image

Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss put himself on the map in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Dethroning Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs will do that, and a date with an elite Miami defense could add fuel to his skyrocketing stock.

However, Chambliss' stock remains in flux -- as does his decision to play in the NFL. Chambliss is currently hoping the NCAA accepts his waiver for a sixth season of eligibility. If so, he'll return to the Rebels and compete for an SEC Championship.

If the NCAA denies his waiver, though, he'll be off to the NFL, making his College Football Playoff performance among the most important stretches of this draft cycle.

Trinidad Chambliss has NFL-level strengths

Chambliss flashed high-level traits throughout the Georgia game, but the best parts of his skill set can be traced back to much of the season, including his regular-season clash with the Bulldogs. 

That starts with a unique feel for ball placement. Chambliss is small (5'11", 200 pounds) but has a live arm and the ability to stretch the field without much of an accuracy drop off. The Lane Kiffin offense he operated limits his tight-window opportunities, but he has thrived throwing into small windows, both in the quick game and downfield. 

Chambliss has a surplus of physical tools, and his athleticism stands out as a tool for potential play-callers. He can scramble for chunk gains and has enough speed to get to the boundary in zone read. That speed comes into play on passes, too, allowing him to buy time out of structure and win with his legs when he can't find an answer in structure.

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Likewise, Chambliss mitigates pressure very well. His window to trust the timing of plays is impressive; he's more than willing to hang in the pocket and make a tough throw before taking a hit. He's a quick-twitch athlete who can make defenders miss in the pocket, evade tacklers in the open field, and minimize big hits.

Questions are looming because of the offense he operated, but Chambliss is accurate, sets his receivers up for YAC, and has a quick enough trigger to avoid turnovers.

Chambliss has significant questions to answer

Like Jaxson Dart last season, the Mississippi offense is a hindrance for teams looking to roll the dice on an early-round quarterback. Perhaps Dart's early translation (despite a bunch of easy-button play calls) helps teams commit to Chambliss.

If that were the only question on his profile, Chambliss would have thrust himself into Round 1 with his College Football Playoff performance. Instead, he has the football world intrigued, but not committed. 

Chambliss's frame is a red flag. Combined with the offense he ran, we really don't know how he's going to adjust to the middle of the field. Baker Mayfield has made it work. Kyler Murray hasn't. Short quarterbacks inherently limit their offenses with the things they can't see, and if Chambliss can't anticipate enough to bridge that gap, he'll be hard to trust as a passer. 

There isn't much to wipe away those concerns, nor is there a strong enough sample size to operate with much certainty. Chambliss ruled the Division II circuit before his lone season in Oxford. One season of Power 4 experience might earn him the reputation of a one-year starter, despite his reps at lower levels. 

Chambliss hasn't been asked to carry a heavy load intangibly. He's still green, and without a ton of reps against elite competition, not being battle-tested can lend itself to a rookie-year redshirt. 

Chambliss's NFL projection

It is undeniable that the arrow is pointed up on Chambliss' stock. It's well deserved, and if he continues to prove himself as a big-game riser, he'll become a real conversation for teams out of range for an early-Round 1 passer.

For now, his stock resides around the top-100, and that's about where he'll land on my board. He's a fun option for teams who can't afford a quarterback early, and there's a route to playing in Year 1. As a fringe starter who can operate a quick-game offense and add instant credibility to a ground game, he'll likely earn the opportunity to play himself into a bigger role.

Chambliss will benefit from his athleticism being a crutch until the mental side develops, and his flashes at Mississippi make me fairly confident that development is attainable. With enough arm talent to elicit upside and a strong ability to avoid sacks and turnovers, the puzzle pieces are present for a starting quarterback.

Yet, Chambliss's size scares me, and there are significant error bars on just about every skill except for his arm talent and athleticism. There is little certainty in this profile, adding weight to the final games of his 2025 season.

Chambliss would benefit from his waiver being accepted, raking in NIL money while further maturing as a passer. While his status remains uncertain, it feels safe to start mocking him between the middle of Round 2 and the end of Round 3. In a murky quarterback class, that's more than enough ammo to fuel a late-process ascension. 

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