Pete Golding raves over Trinidad Chambliss, how he embodies Ole Miss mindset

Ole Miss senior quarterback Trinidad Chambliss boasts one of the best stories in all of college football this season.

Chambliss, who transferred from Ferris State to be Austin Simmons‘ backup this season, quickly took over as the starter following a Simmons injury suffered against Kentucky on Sept. 6. Chambliss thrived in the role, leading the Rebels to an 11-1 record and their first ever College Football Playoff appearance.

In 12 games, the Grand Rapids, MI native passed for 3,016 yards, 18 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He also added 470 yards and six scores on the ground. Pete Golding, who was promoted to Ole Miss‘ head coach following Lane Kiffin‘s shocking departure to LSU, spoke highly of his quarterback on Monday.

“I think kinda when he first got here, you’re talking about a guy that won a National Championship at a different level and was the Player of the Year at that level who came in to a backup from the jump,” Golding said. “How he handled that… you never heard him talking or complaining or anything like that. I feel like he came in and went to work and accepted the role of where he was at during that time. Then he just took it to, ‘hey, I’m going to grind and work and when my opportunity comes, I’m going to be ready’. I think that’s the message for our whole team.”

Pete Golding compares Trinidad Chambliss to Jalen Hurts

In terms of staying ready and prepared for a chance to make a difference, Golding likened Chambliss to Jalen Hurts at Alabama. Hurts, who was benched for Tua Tagovailoa during the 2018 season, was given an opportunity to lead the Crimson Tide to the SEC Championship crown and took advantage of the opportunity.

“That’s what I told them about the Jalen (Hurts)/Tua (Tagovailoa) situation at Alabama. You’ve got Jalen, who’s 18 and was a starter and a National Champion. I remember at halftime wondering if they wanted to pull him or not. Then Tua came in and had 2nd & 26 to win the National Championship Game. Fast forward to the next SEC Championship, Tua started all year and goes out in the third quarter and gets hurt down 10. Who comes in? Jalen. It’s because of the decision when he got pulled to out work everybody else to get another opportunity and be ready when his opportunity comes. He came back and we won the SEC Championship and went on to compete for a National Championship.

“So, that’s the mentality. That’s the attitude Trinidad has, to me. I think he’s an unbelievable example and with him now as the leader of the team, having that attitude the entire time spreads. Hopefully all the other guys are doing the exact same thing of buying in and preparing like a starter because they don’t know when an opportunity is going to come.”

With Chambliss leading the ship, Ole Miss hosts Tulane in Oxford in a First Round College Football Playoff Game on Saturday. Earlier this season, Chambliss passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-10 win over the Green Wave.