TJ Dottery Season 2026
2024 SEC Defensive Player of the Week vs. Arkansas
Veteran linebacker who joins the Tigers after starting 27 games at Ole Miss over the past 2 seasons … Led the SEC in tackles in 2025 with 98 … Key defensive component that helped the Rebels to the best season in school history with a 13-2 record and reaching the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs … One of 4 Ole Miss players to join the Tigers in 2026 through the transfer portal – others are OL Devin Harper, Edge Princewill Umanmielen, and WR Winston Watkins … Originally signed with Clemson out of high school and played his freshman season with the Tigers … Transferred to Ole Miss following the 2022 season … Enters final season of college football with 177 career tackles to go with 10.0 tackles for losses and 3.5 sacks … Started 12 games at Ole Miss in 2024 and the Rebels defense set the school mark and led the nation in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120) … Ole Miss went 22-5 with him in the starting lineup.
JUNIOR SEASON (2025 at Ole Miss)
Started all 15 games at linebacker helping Ole Miss to the best season in school history … Rebels posted a 13-2 mark and advanced to the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs … Led the SEC in total tackles with 98 … Added 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks … Forced 2 fumbles … Had season-high 11 tackles, including a sack for a 12-yard loss, against Miami in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs … Recorded 9 tackles in season-opener against Georgia State, at Georgia and at Mississippi State … Forced fumbles came against Arkansas and Tulane in the first round of the College Football Playoffs … Added 6 tackles in playoff win over Green Wave.
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2024 at Ole Miss)
Started 12 games at linebacker, helping anchor one of the nation’s best run defenses … Ole Miss finished the year ranked No. 1 in the SEC and No. 2 in the FBS in rushing yards allowed (80.5) … Key contributor on Ole Miss defense that set school records for sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120) – which both led the nation … Finished second on team in tackles with 76 with double-digit tackles in 4 games … Added 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery … Career-best 13 tackles at South Carolina … Named SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week for performance in win over Arkansas after tallying 5 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack fumble that resulted in a touchdown … Other double-digit tackle games came against Kentucky (10), Oklahoma (10), and Georgia (10) … Sacks came against Arkansas and South Carolina …
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON (2023 at Ole Miss)
Sat out the regular-season due to NCAA transfer rules at the time … Gained eligibility for the post-season and made his Ole Miss debut against Penn State in the Peach Bowl … Had 2 tackles and a quarterback hurry in 38-25 win over the Nittany Lions … Played 46 snaps in the Peach Bowl win.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2022 at Clemson)
Appeared in 4 games as a true freshman at Clemson in 2022 … Played a total of 16 defensive snaps, tallying 2 tackles … Made collegiate debut on special teams against Furman … Had tackles against North Carolina and against No. 6 Tennessee in the Orange Bowl … Redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL
Rated a consensus 4-star prep recruit … Ranked by Rivals.com as the nation’s No. 147 overall player, as the country’s 10th-best linebacker and as the No. 7-ranked prospect in the state of Alabama … Rated the nation’s 10th-best linebacker and the 14th-best overall player in the state of Alabama by ESPN … Was a 3-time all-state selection at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School … Was 3-time All-Metro and All-Capital City Conference (CCC) honoree … Earned CCC Defensive Player of the Year accolades as a senior … Named the 2021 Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A Lineman of the Year … Tabbed “Super All-State” in 2022, which presented to the top 12 players in the state … Credited with 381 tackles (59 for loss), 10.5 sacks, 7 interceptions, 7 pass breakups and 7 touchdowns in his prep career … Participated in Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic … Led a Montgomery Catholic defense that gave up just 43 points in 14 games and reached the state semifinals in 2021 … Also lettered in basketball, helping his team to a state title game appearance in 2021 … Coached by Kirk Johnson.
TJ Dottery’s Career Highs
Tackles: 13 at South Carolina, 2024
Tackles for loss: 2.0, 2x (Last: vs. The Citadel, 2025; First: at South Carolina, 2024)
Sacks: 1.0, 3x (Last: vs. Miami, 2025 CFP Semifinals; First: at South Carolina, 2024)
Interceptions: 0
Quarterback Hurries: 3 vs. Kentucky, 2024