Ole Miss sensation Trinidad Chambliss rocketed from Division II to the College Football Playoff with the support of his family.
Trinidad Chambliss family tree: Meet mom Cheryl, Navy vet dad and more about Michigan roots originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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- Trinidad Chambliss mom: Cheryl Chambliss
- Trinidad Chambliss dad: Trent Chambliss
- How did Trinidad Chambliss get his name?
- Trinidad Chambliss brother: Tyler Chambliss
- Where is Trinidad Chambliss from?
The best stories in sports are often the unlikely ones, and Trinidad Chambliss' rise certainly qualifies as unlikely.
Chambliss spent most of his college career at Division II Ferris State, near his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. before entering the transfer portal after the 2024 season. After nearly ending up at Temple, Chambliss instead took a leap to be the projected backup to Austin Simmons at Ole Miss.
Weeks later, he was the Rebels' starter — and that was only the beginning of a wild journey that put Chambliss at the center of the college football world in the playoff.
Here's what you need to know about the family that helped Chambliss get there, including his parents.
MORE:Trinidad Chambliss transfer timeline, from Ferris State to Ole Miss
Trinidad Chambliss mom: Cheryl Chambliss
Trinidad Chambliss' mother, Cheryl, was a juvenile probation officer in Grand Rapids for nearly three decades and now works as a substitute teacher in retirement. She is originally from New Jersey but has spent most of her life in Grand Rapids.
Cheryl was an athlete herself when she was young, playing both volleyball and basketball in high school. She now actively supports her son from the crowd and has been seen praying with Trinidad before his games.
Trinidad Chambliss prays with his mom before every game ❤️ pic.twitter.com/k7k5DCLTTK
— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) January 2, 2026
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Cheryl's father, Donald, was a pastor who opened churches at different locations in the U.S. That was the biggest reason Cheryl agreed to the idea of naming her son Trinidad, as her father wanted her to name the child Trinity if it were a girl.
MORE:How Lane Kiffin, LSU whiffed on key players in transfer portal
Trinidad Chambliss dad: Trent Chambliss
Trinidad Chambliss' father, Trent, has a bit of a football background, as he was an offensive lineman at Grand Rapids Community College and Central State University in Ohio before coaching football at Forest Hills Northern, where Trinidad attended school.
Trent is involved in education, as he lists himself as assistant principal at Wyoming High School just south of Grand Rapids. Before becoming involved in education, Trent served in the Navy.
Trent told the Clarion Ledger that he viewed his son's rise to the starting job at Ole Miss as a "Cinderella story."
"I thought of it as a Rudy moment, you know? I've watched that movie over and over again," Trent said.
While the Chambliss family is now tied to Ole Miss forever, Trent was actually born in South Bend, Indiana. and grew up as a Notre Dame fan.
MORE:What to know about new Ole Miss coach Pete Golding
How did Trinidad Chambliss get his name?
Trinidad Chambliss was not named after the island of Trinidad. Trent gave his son his name, ESPN reported, as part of an agreement with Trinidad's mom that he would get to name their second child if it was a boy.
Trent wanted a name that would "stand out and was strong," according to ESPN, so he chose the last name of Puerto Rican boxer Felix Trinidad after watching a fight at a friend's house.
"Trinidad was just fine with me because is translates to Trinity," Trinidad's mother said.
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Are Trinidad Chambliss' parents still married
Trinidad Chambliss' parents are still married and frequently support their son together.
Trent and Cheryl appropriately met through sports, as they were both preparing for a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at a park and had mutual friends. Between Cheryl's basketball and volleyball background and Trent's football background, Trinidad was involved in sports from a young age and was a standout basketball player before deciding to stick with football.
Sports are central to the Chambliss family, as is faith, as Cheryl is a devout Christian.
MORE:What year is Trinidad Chambliss?
Trinidad Chambliss brother: Tyler Chambliss
Trinidad Chambliss has one sibling, an older brother named Tyler. Tyler is 11 years older than Trinidad, but he also has a bit of a football background after playing quarterback and cornerback at Forest Hills Northern.
Trinidad Chambliss ethnicity
Ole Miss fans, and even Lane Kiffin after his departure for LSU, frequently post the Trinidad and Tobago flag to refer to Chambliss, but the quarterback is not Trinidadian.
Chambliss' parents are African-American and were born in the United States, as was Chambliss.
MORE: Lane Kiffin timeline of teams coached
Does Trinidad Chambliss have a girlfriend?
Trinidad Chambliss has given no indication he has a girlfriend or is in a serious relationship, though plenty of athletes prefer to keep their private lives under wraps.
Where is Trinidad Chambliss from?
Trinidad Chambliss is from Grand Rapids, Michigan and grew up in the city, attending Forest Hills Northern High School in Grand Rapids before playing football at nearby Ferris State in Big Rapids.
Oxford, Mississippi is a long way from Michigan, but Chambliss took advantage of the opportunity to play at an SEC school and has cemented himself as a Rebels legend.
Category: General Sports
