The quarterback market coming out of college got another hit when Trinidad Chambliss of Ole Miss was granted an extra year of eligibility by a state judge on Thursday. Earlier, Oregon QB Dante Moore had pulled his name from consideration and announced he will remain in school another year.
The Cardinals will most likely draft a young quarterback in this year’s NFL draft, slated for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. Which player and in what round are the unknown.
RELATED: CHAMBLISS HAS LEGAL ISSUES
Whereas
Moore simply pulled out of the draft, Chambliss went back to his school by way of the court system.
Chambliss will now become a sixth-year senior. He played four seasons with Ferris State University, a D-2 program, and last year he was the starting QB for Ole Miss, and because his eligibility was up, he entered the NFL draft.
Chambliss was identified as a Day 2 draft prospect, but in a weak QB draft class, his stock could rise. He was listed as the #78 prospect, which is mid-third-round. That is where the issue began for Chambliss. According to his agent, if he remained at Ole Miss, he would blow up with NIL money and break the bank. It was assumed that his income in 2026 as a sixth-year senior playing in the SEC would probably exceed his third-round NFL contract.
Chambliss transferred to Ole Miss from Ferris State in 2025 and was expected to be their backup QB to Austin Simmons. But Simmons injured his right ankle in Week 2 against Kentucky, and in the third game against Arkansas, Chambliss was now the starter. He ended up as one of the SEC’s most dominant players as Ole Miss only lost to Georgia in Week 7 and earned a spot in the football playoffs with an 11-1-0 record.
In his lone season with Ole Miss, he showed unique qualities at the D-1 level and threw for 3,937 yards as he tossed 22 touchdowns against only three picks. Because he became a one-year wonder, his NIL prospects went through the roof.
He then petitioned the NCAA to remain in school one more year. They said no since he has played five years of college football. The NCAA denied his request to remain in school another year on January 9, 2026.
So, Chambliss filed a lawsuit.
He made claims that two of his college years while attending Ferris State should not count because he was a victim of medical illnesses regarding respiratory issues, and should have been granted a medical redshirt for a sixth season.
In court on Thursday, Judge Robert Whitwell stated that Chambliss clearly met the criteria to receive a medical redshirt and that the NCAA ignored medical evidence when it denied his waiver.
While at Ferris State, Chambliss won two National Championships in 2022 and 2024. He was named the “Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year” following the 2024 season. At Ole Miss, he won the Conerly Trophy, given out annually to the best college football player in the State of Mississippi, and he was selected Second Team All-ACC.
Currently, the Cardinals’ QB room consists of Kyler Murray, Jacoby Brissett, and Kedon Slovis.
Possible QB prospects include:
- Round 2, pick #34 – Ty Simpson (Alabama)
- Round 3, pick #65 – Garrett Nussmeier (LSU)
- Round 4, pick #104 – Cade Klubnik (Clemson)
- Round 5, pick # 141 – Drew Allar (Penn State)
- Round 6, pick #182 – Jalon Daniels (Kansas)
- Round 7, pick #217 – Cole Payton (North Dakota State)
By comparison, Arizona DE Jordan Burch was the #78 pick in last year’s draft. He signed a four-year deal worth $6.49 million. Chambliss is expected to make between $5 – $8 million in his final year at Ole Miss.
The NCAA has stated it will appeal.
