Home / Sports / Kiffin's Brother Reveals Scheme That Lured Ole Miss Star
Kiffin's Brother Reveals Scheme That Lured Ole Miss Star
16 Oct
Summary
- LSU's simpler defensive scheme was used to recruit TJ Dottery from Ole Miss.
- Chris Kiffin stated Pete Golding's complex system hindered Dottery's play.
- Dottery aimed to 'fly around and have fun' with LSU's defense.
Lane Kiffin's recruitment tactics for Ole Miss saw his brother, Chris Kiffin, reveal a key strategy used to lure linebacker TJ Dottery to LSU. Chris, LSU's co-defensive coordinator, stated that Pete Golding's intricate defensive system at Ole Miss hindered Dottery's ability to play quickly and instinctively. The selling point for Dottery to join LSU was the promise of a simpler scheme, enabling him to "fly around, have fun."
Dottery, who previously played at Clemson and Ole Miss, entered the transfer portal on January 15, 2026. After visiting LSU, he signed with the Tigers on January 16, 2026. At Ole Miss, Dottery led the SEC with 98 tackles in the previous season, wearing the 'green dot' to relay defensive calls. However, Chris Kiffin argued this role created a communication burden that limited his speed.
Despite Golding's efforts to retain players after Lane Kiffin's departure from Ole Miss, the Tigers ultimately lost Dottery. Golding impressively rebuilt his roster with 29 transfers, securing the nation's second-best transfer portal class. In a recent matchup on September 19, 2026, against his former team, Dottery recorded five tackles. LSU's subsequent overtime loss to Kentucky saw Dottery leading the Tigers with 12 tackles, showcasing his impact on the field.
