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WATCH: T.J. Dottery ready to be the quarterback of the Ole Miss defense

11by: Jake Thompson08/26/25JakeThompsonOn3
NCAA Football: Oklahoma at Mississippi
Oct 26, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Jovantae Barnes (2) runs the ball as Mississippi Rebels linebacker TJ Dottery (6) pursues during the first half at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Last season Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding gave his marching orders to the helmets of T.J. Dottery and Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul, Jr. This Fall that responsibility is falling squarely one one player’s shoulders.

Those shoulders would be Dottery’s who confirmed on Tuesday that he will be the only ‘green dot’ helmet on that side of the ball. This means Golding will only be communicating to Dottery’s helmet, making the junior linebacker the de-factor quarterback of the defense. This also means to not expect Dottery to be getting many plays off and could be an every snap player, rotating out only one linebacker at times.

None of this is new for Dottery.

“I was the green dot last year so just as far as communication and trying to get aligned and assigned, It was the same as last year,” Dottery said.

The Ole Miss defense is very different than last year’s, mostly in terms of the roster.

A lot of seasoned veterans are gone and replaced by younger players or newcomers who were not in Oxford a year ago. There is a maturity gap Dottery is charging himself with trying to shrink early into the year.

“As far as maturity-wise, just having younger guys out there but I think that’s what my job is,” Dottery said. “Coming back from last year and being one of the older guys is instilling those younger guys with the right mentality and mindset of how to come to work every day.”

Dottery might be the leader of the Ole Miss defense but he is not the only player out there with experience. Suntarine Perkins will be lurking between the first two levels as the hybrid defensive end-linebacker utility player, aiding Dottery.

Watch T.J. Dottery’s full press conference below:

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