LSU football pushing for Ole Miss transfer portal linebacker

LSU football is making a late push in this year's NCAA Transfer Portal window, which closes Friday evening. One player Lane Kiffin and his staff have recently set their sights on is former Ole Miss linebacker T.J. Dottery, who entered the portal early Thursday morning. According to On3’s Pete Nakos, Dottery will have a “multitude of options”, but the Tigers are the clear frontrunners to land the veteran linebacker.

Dottery is a redshirt junior with one year of eligibility remaining. A two-year starter for the Rebels, Dottery has amassed 177 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles over his four-year career.

Although Dottery boasts two years of SEC experience on his resume, it hasn’t been particularly impressive. In 2024, his first season as a starter, Dottery’s 52.9 PFF defense grade ranked 67th among SEC linebackers who played 100 or more snaps. Things didn’t improve much in 2025, as the former Rebel’s grade rose to 54.4, ranking 61st.

LSU could use some more experience at the position after the departures of Harold Perkins Jr. and West Weeks, so there may be a role for Dottery in the Tigers’ defense. They haven’t signed a single linebacker in the portal so far, likely leaving either Tylen Singleton or Zach Weeks to slide into the starting rotation in 2026. Neither has seen much action in their limited time in Baton Rouge, so Dottery could serve as a sort of buffer while that young duo finds its footing.

So far, there have been no reports of any visits scheduled for Dottery. Ole Miss is reportedly “fighting” to get Dottery to return to Oxford for next season, so maybe that’s what he elects to do.

This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU football pushing for Ole Miss transfer portal linebacker