For the New York Jets, the more quarterbacks available in the 2026 draft class, the better, and another college signal caller may have just been forced to enter his name in the pool.
According to ESPN’s college football insider Pete Thamel, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss was denied a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.
The decision is not yet final, and Ole Miss can appeal the decision before Chambliss has to decide whether to enter the draft or not.
The Rebels made it all the way to the College Football Semifinal before losing to the Miami Hurricanes at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.
Chambliss, a backup quarterback turned starter, was red hot the whole way, and Ole Miss certainly wouldn’t have made it as far had it not been for their quarterback.
Will Trinidad Chambliss Be an Option for the Jets?
Through three games in the playoffs, Chambliss completed 67.9% of his passes for 921 yards, six total touchdowns, and no interceptions.
He’s inserted his name in the conversation of top quarterbacks available in the 2026 class, which should pique the interest of the New York Jets, who are in desperate need of a new man under center.
The Jets, armed with four picks in the top 50 of next April’s draft, will surely use one of those picks on a quarterback. Could Chambliss be an option?
As of now, it’s looking like he could be available. Given the NCAA’s current stance on Chambliss’ sixth-year of eligibility, the former Division II champion may be forced to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.
And while that’s a bummer for the Rebels quarterback, it’s great news for the Jets.
As they enter a pivotal offseason under head coach Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey, New York is better off having as many available options to them as possible.
So far, only Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has declared his intent to enter the 2026 NFL Draft.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is expected to as well, but the Hoosiers are still alive in the College Football Playoff.
The most intriguing will-he-won’t-he prospect as of now is Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who is widely considered to be the QB2 of this year’s crop of trigger men.
Moore is only 20 years old and would likely benefit from another year of college ball, but being the No. 2 pick in the draft comes with a signing bonus that would blow any NIL offer out of the water.
Trinidad Chambliss’ Appeal Process
As of January 9, Chambliss has not been granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, thanks to his four seasons at the Division II program Ferris State.
But the Ole Miss quarterback is going to appeal the decision, and has tabbed attorney Tom Mars to help him in his case.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel was able to get his hands on a letter penned by Mars, passed from Ole Miss to the NCAA reinstatement committee.
“‘This matter is not just time sensitive,’ Mars wrote. The letter asserts that Chambliss would ‘suffer irreparable harm’ if he’s not granted the waiver.”
“The waiver itself — like many NCAA eligibility issues — is complex. But the gist is that Chambliss is asking for a medical redshirt for the 2022 season when he was at Ferris State. (He took a traditional redshirt season during his true freshman year there in 2021.)”
Chambliss didn’t play a single game for Ferris State in 2022 and is the crux of his and Mars’ appeal.
“I’m baffled why this waiver wasn’t granted back in November just based on the irrefutable, objective evidence,” Mars told Thamel.
“The NCAA is attempting to impose a higher burden of proof on a young man who is without any fault, has satisfied all the requirements of the NCAA rules, and who’s been an outstanding representative of college football — both on and off the field.”
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