Ole Miss backup quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was given the starting nod against Arkansas on Saturday night and made the best of it.
The Rebels beat the Razorbacks 41-35 in Oxford with the former Division II star from Ferris State going 21-of-29 for 353 yards and a touchdown. Chambliss also had 15 carries for 62 yards and two scores on the ground. This was his first real work under center after arriving on campus in May.
Chambliss took a majority of first-team offensive reps this week in practice to replace Austin Simmons, who was in a boot to start the week. He returned to practice on Thursday but was behind Chambliss. Simmons suffered an ankle injury in the Rebels’ 30-23 win at Kentucky last week.
Ole Miss never trailed in the game and started to pull away in the second half. Chambliss' first two scores were on the ground before finding De'Zhaun Stribling for a 6-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Chambliss chose the Rebels over other SEC schools and it's a decision that's paying off. He accounted for 3,944 total yards and 51 total touchdowns last year.
“Coming to Ole Miss, I feel like with any school you got to bet on yourself,” Chambliss said back in August. “You can’t back down from competition. When I came down for my visit here, I felt like it was a great family atmosphere. Reminded me of my old school at Ferris State. The coaches are great with their team and great with their staff. Just coming here, just betting on myself, putting my best foot forward and being the best person and player that I can be for this team no matter what role that is.”
Ole Miss and Chambliss will face a QB battle with Tulane and Jake Retzlaff next week (2:30 p.m. ET/TV: ESPN).
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS:
- Deion Sanders' porta potty hits the road with 'Prime Time' sponsorship
- Nick Saban on Browns' Derrick Henry diss: Try 'tackling his ass every day'
- UCLA takes jabs from two conferences following $1.2 million New Mexico loss
- Deion Sanders buyout, contract details as Colorado Buffaloes coach
- Four mind-blowing stats from Indiana's historic 73-0 win over Indiana State