UNC basketball makes unexpected splash by hiring former Nuggets coach
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 22: Michael Malone speaks before the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on May 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Malone’s key tie to UNC is through his daughter, who is a volleyball player in Chapel Hill, making this a reunion of sorts. However, the hiring has much more to do with adding some gravitas to a men’s basketball program that was limping along under Davis in both recruiting and performance, with UNC boosters and insiders growing increasingly frustrated with the program falling further and further behind Duke.
This move gives the Tar Heels some serious chops at head coach. Malone was unfairly fired by the Sacramento Kings to start his NBA tenure, before the Denver Nuggets saw potential in him as a tactician and team builder. Aided in large part by the emergence of Nikola Jokic, Malone helped lead the Nuggets to an NBA Championship in 2022-23.
The all-time winningest coach in Nuggets history, Malone was fired by the team in April of 2025 along with GM Calvin Booth, under the belief from ownership that a new coach and front office could lead to more playoff success than the feuding Booth and Malone.
A truly fascinating hire, Malone hasn’t had experience coaching college basketball since 2001 as an assistant for Manhattan. The bulk of his time has been spent in the NBA, which will lead to some fascinating recruiting challenges for the Tar Heels moving forward. Tactically and organizationally, this feels like a home run hire in a cycle where many top coaches committed to staying with their programs, even while the pitfall of Malone not having college experience is clear.
This is a new era for Tar Heel basketball, and it’s going to be fascinating to see it unfold.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – May 22: Michael Malone speaks before the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals on May 22, 2025 at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
Even with the long list of possible names rumored for the vacant UNC men’s basketball job, the program still managed to make a hire nobody expected. It is now being reported that Mike Malone, former coach of the Denver Nuggets, will become the 20th coach in the history of the program, succeeding Hubert Davis, who was fired by the Tar Heels during the NCAA tournament after their upset loss to VCU.
Malone’s key tie to UNC is through his daughter, who is a volleyball player in Chapel Hill, making this a reunion of sorts. However, the hiring has much more to do with adding some gravitas to a men’s basketball program that was limping along under Davis in both recruiting and performance, with UNC boosters and insiders growing increasingly frustrated with the program falling further and further behind Duke.
This move gives the Tar Heels some serious chops at head coach. Malone was unfairly fired by the Sacramento Kings to start his NBA tenure, before the Denver Nuggets saw potential in him as a tactician and team builder. Aided in large part by the emergence of Nikola Jokic, Malone helped lead the Nuggets to an NBA Championship in 2022-23.
The all-time winningest coach in Nuggets history, Malone was fired by the team in April of 2025 along with GM Calvin Booth, under the belief from ownership that a new coach and front office could lead to more playoff success than the feuding Booth and Malone.
A truly fascinating hire, Malone hasn’t had experience coaching college basketball since 2001 as an assistant for Manhattan. The bulk of his time has been spent in the NBA, which will lead to some fascinating recruiting challenges for the Tar Heels moving forward. Tactically and organizationally, this feels like a home run hire in a cycle where many top coaches committed to staying with their programs, even while the pitfall of Malone not having college experience is clear.
This is a new era for Tar Heel basketball, and it’s going to be fascinating to see it unfold.
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Schwarber will be in the starting lineup for the NL, batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter. Teammate Brandon Marsh will start in right field, and he bats seventh for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who leads the NL. And, on the bump, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod.
Sanchez is 7-1 with a 0.86 ERA across 73 IP in 11 home starts this season, posting a 0.93 WHIP, while surrendering just two home runs at his home park. That’s pretty impressive. However, Sanchez just started Saturday, so don’t expect him to get a ton of work.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider leads the American League, and he gives the ball to Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease for his first-ever All-Star appearance. He is the first Jays starter since 2009, when the late Roy Halladay was the starting pitcher. Oddly enough, Sanchez is the first Phillies starting pitcher since…Halladay, in 2011.
As far as weather, temperatures are forecasted to still be at 90 degrees at first pitch, which is very hot for Philadelphia. A hot wind from 11-14 MPH will be blowing from the southwest, which means we’ll have a bit of a jet stream to the right-center field power alley.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, batting second, and Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero, jump on Sanchez in the first. He isn’t likely to go far after working just three days ago. In fact, betting OVER 0.5 RUNS (-105) – FIRST INNING is a strong play. We have Cease, who gives up plenty of walks, which is not great, and Sanchez, who might not be at 100 percent rest.
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As far as the entire game, I like the NL (-140) to get the job done. The National League has won two of the past three meetings, and historically, the NL has won three straight meetings when Philadelphia has hosted, dating back to July 8, 1952 at Shibe Park.
For years, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed that the pitching was overpowering in these games. However, since 2018 in Washington D.C., we’ve seen a total of 59 combined runs in the past seven mid-summer classics. That’s 8.4 runs per game (RPG) in the span, so the lean is to the OVER 8 (-105) for the total.
Lastly, if you’re trying to bet the MVP, that’s a crapshoot. It literally can be any late-innings hero. Last season, Schwarber was 0-for-2 in the game, but he won MVP thanks to the silly swing-off thing. Anyway, while he didn’t have a great Home Run Derby showing, BRYCE HARPER (+1300) – MVP could come on in the middle to late innings, making for a storybook finish.
Schwarber will be in the starting lineup for the NL, batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter. Teammate Brandon Marsh will start in right field, and he bats seventh for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who leads the NL. And, on the bump, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod.
Sanchez is 7-1 with a 0.86 ERA across 73 IP in 11 home starts this season, posting a 0.93 WHIP, while surrendering just two home runs at his home park. That’s pretty impressive. However, Sanchez just started Saturday, so don’t expect him to get a ton of work.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider leads the American League, and he gives the ball to Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease for his first-ever All-Star appearance. He is the first Jays starter since 2009, when the late Roy Halladay was the starting pitcher. Oddly enough, Sanchez is the first Phillies starting pitcher since…Halladay, in 2011.
As far as weather, temperatures are forecasted to still be at 90 degrees at first pitch, which is very hot for Philadelphia. A hot wind from 11-14 MPH will be blowing from the southwest, which means we’ll have a bit of a jet stream to the right-center field power alley.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, batting second, and Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero, jump on Sanchez in the first. He isn’t likely to go far after working just three days ago. In fact, betting OVER 0.5 RUNS (-105) – FIRST INNING is a strong play. We have Cease, who gives up plenty of walks, which is not great, and Sanchez, who might not be at 100 percent rest.
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
As far as the entire game, I like the NL (-140) to get the job done. The National League has won two of the past three meetings, and historically, the NL has won three straight meetings when Philadelphia has hosted, dating back to July 8, 1952 at Shibe Park.
For years, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed that the pitching was overpowering in these games. However, since 2018 in Washington D.C., we’ve seen a total of 59 combined runs in the past seven mid-summer classics. That’s 8.4 runs per game (RPG) in the span, so the lean is to the OVER 8 (-105) for the total.
Lastly, if you’re trying to bet the MVP, that’s a crapshoot. It literally can be any late-innings hero. Last season, Schwarber was 0-for-2 in the game, but he won MVP thanks to the silly swing-off thing. Anyway, while he didn’t have a great Home Run Derby showing, BRYCE HARPER (+1300) – MVP could come on in the middle to late innings, making for a storybook finish.
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Channel debug: betting
#MLB #AllStar #Game #Bets #Picks #Odds #Predictions #Deadspin.com">MLB All-Star Game Best Bets: Picks, Odds and Predictions for AL vs. NL | Deadspin.com
Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The American League and National League clash in the 96th Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET, and the game can be viewed or streamed on FOX.
The AL holds a slight 48-45-2 series advantage, although the NL has won two of the past three installments, including last season’s 7-6 victory at Truist Park in Atlanta. Philadelphia Phillies DH Kyle Schwarber, the runner-up in Monday’s Home Run Derby, was the MVP after leading the NL to a win in the first-ever “swing-off”, deciding a winner with a HR Derby, the equivalent of penalties in a World Cup matchup.
Schwarber will be in the starting lineup for the NL, batting leadoff and serving as the designated hitter. Teammate Brandon Marsh will start in right field, and he bats seventh for Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who leads the NL. And, on the bump, Phillies LHP Cristopher Sanchez gets the starting nod.
Sanchez is 7-1 with a 0.86 ERA across 73 IP in 11 home starts this season, posting a 0.93 WHIP, while surrendering just two home runs at his home park. That’s pretty impressive. However, Sanchez just started Saturday, so don’t expect him to get a ton of work.
Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider leads the American League, and he gives the ball to Blue Jays RHP Dylan Cease for his first-ever All-Star appearance. He is the first Jays starter since 2009, when the late Roy Halladay was the starting pitcher. Oddly enough, Sanchez is the first Phillies starting pitcher since…Halladay, in 2011.
As far as weather, temperatures are forecasted to still be at 90 degrees at first pitch, which is very hot for Philadelphia. A hot wind from 11-14 MPH will be blowing from the southwest, which means we’ll have a bit of a jet stream to the right-center field power alley.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the likes Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, batting second, and Tampa Bay Rays 3B Junior Caminero, jump on Sanchez in the first. He isn’t likely to go far after working just three days ago. In fact, betting OVER 0.5 RUNS (-105) – FIRST INNING is a strong play. We have Cease, who gives up plenty of walks, which is not great, and Sanchez, who might not be at 100 percent rest.
Our Current Best Offers
Channel debug: betting
As far as the entire game, I like the NL (-140) to get the job done. The National League has won two of the past three meetings, and historically, the NL has won three straight meetings when Philadelphia has hosted, dating back to July 8, 1952 at Shibe Park.
For years, especially in the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed that the pitching was overpowering in these games. However, since 2018 in Washington D.C., we’ve seen a total of 59 combined runs in the past seven mid-summer classics. That’s 8.4 runs per game (RPG) in the span, so the lean is to the OVER 8 (-105) for the total.
Lastly, if you’re trying to bet the MVP, that’s a crapshoot. It literally can be any late-innings hero. Last season, Schwarber was 0-for-2 in the game, but he won MVP thanks to the silly swing-off thing. Anyway, while he didn’t have a great Home Run Derby showing, BRYCE HARPER (+1300) – MVP could come on in the middle to late innings, making for a storybook finish.
After that, Chambliss filed a lawsuit to contend the NCAA denying him an extra year of eligibility, and he won that case. Now that he has another developmental year before he tries the NFL on for size, what’s already on the ball, and what does he need to refine?
Let’s dive into the tape.
Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
One of the most interesting things about Chambliss as a smaller, inherently mobile quarterback, is that he doesn’t need to leave the pocket to hit the middle of the field. Last season, when throwing to the middle of the field (directly to the middle; not middle left or middle right), Chambliss completed 46 of 70 passes for 825 yards, eight touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 144.0.
His 44.45 EPA on such throws was the NCAA’s 11th-best (minimum 50 attempts), and it’s one of the more NFL-ready parts of his game. Teams at the next level that work their passing games over the middle of the field (or want to do so) won’t have to take leave of that notion with Chambliss as their quarterback.
Winning outside the pocket
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Mississippi Rebels moves with the ball in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) ISI Photos via Getty Images
On throws outside the pocket last season, Chambliss completed 37 of 64 passes for 500 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 97.1. Chambliss has a good sense of his own mechanics when he’s throwing on the move — the arm strength is enough for him to hit his targets when he has to throw off-platform, and when he rights his shoulders to the target, he’s capable of making some really nice downfield passes from a moving pocket.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 08: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels stiff-arms Jakobe Thomas #8 of the Miami Hurricanes in the first half during the CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) Getty Images
Chambliss has learned to deal with pressure very well — in 2025, he completed 44 of 81 passes when disrupted for 649 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 84.9. Chambliss’ yards per attempt average of 8.0 under pressure also tells you that he doesn’t automatically become Captain Checkdown when pressured. The aforementioned pocket movement helps him a lot in an NFL-conversant sense, and Chambliss has already served notice to defenses that if you blitz him, you will regret it.
Against five or more pass rushers last season, whether pressured or not, Chambliss completed 119 of 194 passes for 1,521 yards, 14 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 109.9, which has higher than his passer rating of 104.7 when he wasn’t blitzed.
You don’t see THAT too often. Chambliss will be relatively ready for an NFL that now looks to test quarterbacks with all kinds of stunts, games, and line movement, and he has anther year in college to refine that mastery.
Going through progressions
Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) warms up before their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Jan. 8, 2026. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
And while Chambliss did have the NCAA’s second-most RPO passing attempts last season with 94, behind only that Fernando Mendoza guy (who had 103 such attempts), Chambliss is similar to Mendoza in that he isn’t over-reliant on quick one-two RPO reads to get things done in the passing game.
On the kinds of throws that define the best quarterbacks at any level — the dig, corner, post, over, seam, and go routes — Chambliss completed 63 of 112 passes for 1,504 yards, eight touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 121.1, which ranked fourth in the NCAA among quarterbacks with at least 100 such attempts in the 2025 season. Chambliss can read through his second and third progressions with no problem; he won’t need his NFL coaches to break him down to the studs and start all over.
Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As you would expect, Chambliss’ mobility extends to his ability to make important plays as a runner, whether on designed plays or scrambles. Overall, he ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards, eight touchdowns, and three fumbles. Chambliss had 15 designed QB draw runs last season, and he averaged 4.9 yards per play with a touchdown.
I wouldn’t necessarily want to put Chambliss in the teeth of NFL defensive lines too often as a pure runner at his size — his coaches will need to be judicious about such things — but the rushing ability is just as good by design as it is when the play breaks down.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels speaks at the press conference after the second half of CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona.The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 31-27. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) Getty Images
Chambliss still needs development when it comes to the timing of his throws in the design of the route concepts — he’s not always an anticipation thrower, and that can get him into trouble. The three interceptions look nice in the box score, but there were also several turnover-worthy throws last season, where he threw late into converging coverage, and it was the luck of the draw that saved him.
The mechanics aren’t always consistent — Chambliss will get too cute at times when creating torque to throw, and he tries to do too much with his upper body. This “sticks” his lower body to the turf, and he (like most quarterbacks) can’t calculate the difference in direction and velocity when he does this.
The arm arrogance is justified, as Chambliss can throw with authority to all levels of the field, but he will also zing the ball into obvious coverage with the presumed thought that he’s above the law, so to speak. He isn’t, and it wouldn’t take too much for his interception luck to turn in 2026, and for that to become painfully obvious.
Chambliss doesn’t need to get outside the pocket to see the middle of the field, which is a notable attribute for any smaller quarterback, but there are times when he’ll leave the pocket when he doesn’t need to. He also doesn’t always square his shoulders to the target, which leads to other inaccuracies.
It’s great that Chambliss can vary his velocity and ball flight on command, but there are times when he throws fastballs when off-speed pitches are required, and vice versa.
Overall, I would have placed Chambliss high on my list of 2026 quarterback prospect list had he made himself available for the draft — most likely an early second
But I would not be at all surprised if Chambliss comes out of the 2026 season higher on the 2027 QB draft list than people may imagine at this point in time.
After that, Chambliss filed a lawsuit to contend the NCAA denying him an extra year of eligibility, and he won that case. Now that he has another developmental year before he tries the NFL on for size, what’s already on the ball, and what does he need to refine?
Let’s dive into the tape.
Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
One of the most interesting things about Chambliss as a smaller, inherently mobile quarterback, is that he doesn’t need to leave the pocket to hit the middle of the field. Last season, when throwing to the middle of the field (directly to the middle; not middle left or middle right), Chambliss completed 46 of 70 passes for 825 yards, eight touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 144.0.
His 44.45 EPA on such throws was the NCAA’s 11th-best (minimum 50 attempts), and it’s one of the more NFL-ready parts of his game. Teams at the next level that work their passing games over the middle of the field (or want to do so) won’t have to take leave of that notion with Chambliss as their quarterback.
Winning outside the pocket
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Mississippi Rebels moves with the ball in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) ISI Photos via Getty Images
On throws outside the pocket last season, Chambliss completed 37 of 64 passes for 500 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 97.1. Chambliss has a good sense of his own mechanics when he’s throwing on the move — the arm strength is enough for him to hit his targets when he has to throw off-platform, and when he rights his shoulders to the target, he’s capable of making some really nice downfield passes from a moving pocket.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 08: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels stiff-arms Jakobe Thomas #8 of the Miami Hurricanes in the first half during the CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) Getty Images
Chambliss has learned to deal with pressure very well — in 2025, he completed 44 of 81 passes when disrupted for 649 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 84.9. Chambliss’ yards per attempt average of 8.0 under pressure also tells you that he doesn’t automatically become Captain Checkdown when pressured. The aforementioned pocket movement helps him a lot in an NFL-conversant sense, and Chambliss has already served notice to defenses that if you blitz him, you will regret it.
Against five or more pass rushers last season, whether pressured or not, Chambliss completed 119 of 194 passes for 1,521 yards, 14 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 109.9, which has higher than his passer rating of 104.7 when he wasn’t blitzed.
You don’t see THAT too often. Chambliss will be relatively ready for an NFL that now looks to test quarterbacks with all kinds of stunts, games, and line movement, and he has anther year in college to refine that mastery.
Going through progressions
Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) warms up before their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Jan. 8, 2026. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
And while Chambliss did have the NCAA’s second-most RPO passing attempts last season with 94, behind only that Fernando Mendoza guy (who had 103 such attempts), Chambliss is similar to Mendoza in that he isn’t over-reliant on quick one-two RPO reads to get things done in the passing game.
On the kinds of throws that define the best quarterbacks at any level — the dig, corner, post, over, seam, and go routes — Chambliss completed 63 of 112 passes for 1,504 yards, eight touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 121.1, which ranked fourth in the NCAA among quarterbacks with at least 100 such attempts in the 2025 season. Chambliss can read through his second and third progressions with no problem; he won’t need his NFL coaches to break him down to the studs and start all over.
Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As you would expect, Chambliss’ mobility extends to his ability to make important plays as a runner, whether on designed plays or scrambles. Overall, he ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards, eight touchdowns, and three fumbles. Chambliss had 15 designed QB draw runs last season, and he averaged 4.9 yards per play with a touchdown.
I wouldn’t necessarily want to put Chambliss in the teeth of NFL defensive lines too often as a pure runner at his size — his coaches will need to be judicious about such things — but the rushing ability is just as good by design as it is when the play breaks down.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels speaks at the press conference after the second half of CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona.The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 31-27. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) Getty Images
Chambliss still needs development when it comes to the timing of his throws in the design of the route concepts — he’s not always an anticipation thrower, and that can get him into trouble. The three interceptions look nice in the box score, but there were also several turnover-worthy throws last season, where he threw late into converging coverage, and it was the luck of the draw that saved him.
The mechanics aren’t always consistent — Chambliss will get too cute at times when creating torque to throw, and he tries to do too much with his upper body. This “sticks” his lower body to the turf, and he (like most quarterbacks) can’t calculate the difference in direction and velocity when he does this.
The arm arrogance is justified, as Chambliss can throw with authority to all levels of the field, but he will also zing the ball into obvious coverage with the presumed thought that he’s above the law, so to speak. He isn’t, and it wouldn’t take too much for his interception luck to turn in 2026, and for that to become painfully obvious.
Chambliss doesn’t need to get outside the pocket to see the middle of the field, which is a notable attribute for any smaller quarterback, but there are times when he’ll leave the pocket when he doesn’t need to. He also doesn’t always square his shoulders to the target, which leads to other inaccuracies.
It’s great that Chambliss can vary his velocity and ball flight on command, but there are times when he throws fastballs when off-speed pitches are required, and vice versa.
Overall, I would have placed Chambliss high on my list of 2026 quarterback prospect list had he made himself available for the draft — most likely an early second
But I would not be at all surprised if Chambliss comes out of the 2026 season higher on the 2027 QB draft list than people may imagine at this point in time.
#season #Ole #impact #Trinidad #Chambliss #NFLreadiness">How will one more season with Ole Miss impact QB Trinidad Chambliss’ NFL-readiness?
When it comes to the 2027 quarterback class, hope springs eternal. Especially after a 2026 class that produced two first-rounders in Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, and a 2025 class that produced two in Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart, the NFL prayer is that the 2027 group of signal-callers is more like the 2024 version, when there were three taken with the first three picks, six in the top 12, and four legit NFL starters in Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, and Bo Nix. Even the relative stragglers (Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy) haven’t run entirely out of road when it comes to their NFL potential.
Ostensibly, the 2027 class looks absolutely ridiculous from a tools and potential perspective. We could have Texas’ Arch Manning, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Ohio State’s Julian Sayin, Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Oklahoma State’s Drew Mestemaker, Notre Dame’s C.J. Carr, and Texas Tech’s Brendan Sorsby (depending on how Sorsby is affected by recent gambling allegations) all fighting to rest atop next year’s QB draft listings, and there are ways in which each one could do it. Not to mention the fact that there will be a surprise interloper who comes out of nowhere to show NFL potential.
That’s at least eight quarterbacks for NFL teams to consider next year. Of course, we also know that not every sure-thing prospect will ultimately become that even before he’s drafted; we’ve all seen the super-hyped guys fall down when they get hit without a plan.
The idea with this series is to evaluate each of the prominent future prospects with one eye on what they’ve already done, and the other on what they need to do in order to reach their ultimate ceiling. We continue the deep dive with Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss, who fought to stay in school despite a 2025 season that had him as a more than credible NFL prospect.
Last season, Chambliss completed 294 of 448 passes (65.6%) for 3,934 yards (8.8 YPA), 22 touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 106.9. He also ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards (4.5 YPA), eight touchdowns and three fumbles.
After that, Chambliss filed a lawsuit to contend the NCAA denying him an extra year of eligibility, and he won that case. Now that he has another developmental year before he tries the NFL on for size, what’s already on the ball, and what does he need to refine?
Let’s dive into the tape.
Jan 8, 2026; Glendale, AZ, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) against the Miami Hurricanes during the 2026 Fiesta Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
One of the most interesting things about Chambliss as a smaller, inherently mobile quarterback, is that he doesn’t need to leave the pocket to hit the middle of the field. Last season, when throwing to the middle of the field (directly to the middle; not middle left or middle right), Chambliss completed 46 of 70 passes for 825 yards, eight touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 144.0.
His 44.45 EPA on such throws was the NCAA’s 11th-best (minimum 50 attempts), and it’s one of the more NFL-ready parts of his game. Teams at the next level that work their passing games over the middle of the field (or want to do so) won’t have to take leave of that notion with Chambliss as their quarterback.
Winning outside the pocket
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Mississippi Rebels moves with the ball in the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Limentani/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images) ISI Photos via Getty Images
On throws outside the pocket last season, Chambliss completed 37 of 64 passes for 500 yards, four touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 97.1. Chambliss has a good sense of his own mechanics when he’s throwing on the move — the arm strength is enough for him to hit his targets when he has to throw off-platform, and when he rights his shoulders to the target, he’s capable of making some really nice downfield passes from a moving pocket.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 08: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels stiff-arms Jakobe Thomas #8 of the Miami Hurricanes in the first half during the CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 08, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) Getty Images
Chambliss has learned to deal with pressure very well — in 2025, he completed 44 of 81 passes when disrupted for 649 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 84.9. Chambliss’ yards per attempt average of 8.0 under pressure also tells you that he doesn’t automatically become Captain Checkdown when pressured. The aforementioned pocket movement helps him a lot in an NFL-conversant sense, and Chambliss has already served notice to defenses that if you blitz him, you will regret it.
Against five or more pass rushers last season, whether pressured or not, Chambliss completed 119 of 194 passes for 1,521 yards, 14 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 109.9, which has higher than his passer rating of 104.7 when he wasn’t blitzed.
You don’t see THAT too often. Chambliss will be relatively ready for an NFL that now looks to test quarterbacks with all kinds of stunts, games, and line movement, and he has anther year in college to refine that mastery.
Going through progressions
Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) warms up before their Vrbo Fiesta Bowl matchup against the Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Jan. 8, 2026. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
And while Chambliss did have the NCAA’s second-most RPO passing attempts last season with 94, behind only that Fernando Mendoza guy (who had 103 such attempts), Chambliss is similar to Mendoza in that he isn’t over-reliant on quick one-two RPO reads to get things done in the passing game.
On the kinds of throws that define the best quarterbacks at any level — the dig, corner, post, over, seam, and go routes — Chambliss completed 63 of 112 passes for 1,504 yards, eight touchdowns, one interception, and a passer rating of 121.1, which ranked fourth in the NCAA among quarterbacks with at least 100 such attempts in the 2025 season. Chambliss can read through his second and third progressions with no problem; he won’t need his NFL coaches to break him down to the studs and start all over.
Dec 20, 2025; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Tulane Green Wave at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
As you would expect, Chambliss’ mobility extends to his ability to make important plays as a runner, whether on designed plays or scrambles. Overall, he ran the ball 130 times for 585 yards, eight touchdowns, and three fumbles. Chambliss had 15 designed QB draw runs last season, and he averaged 4.9 yards per play with a touchdown.
I wouldn’t necessarily want to put Chambliss in the teeth of NFL defensive lines too often as a pure runner at his size — his coaches will need to be judicious about such things — but the rushing ability is just as good by design as it is when the play breaks down.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 8: Trinidad Chambliss #6 of the Ole Miss Rebels speaks at the press conference after the second half of CFP Semifinal Vrbo Fiesta Bowl against Miami Hurricanes at State Farm Stadium on January 8, 2026 in Glendale, Arizona.The Miami Hurricanes defeated the Ole Miss Rebels 31-27. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images) Getty Images
Chambliss still needs development when it comes to the timing of his throws in the design of the route concepts — he’s not always an anticipation thrower, and that can get him into trouble. The three interceptions look nice in the box score, but there were also several turnover-worthy throws last season, where he threw late into converging coverage, and it was the luck of the draw that saved him.
The mechanics aren’t always consistent — Chambliss will get too cute at times when creating torque to throw, and he tries to do too much with his upper body. This “sticks” his lower body to the turf, and he (like most quarterbacks) can’t calculate the difference in direction and velocity when he does this.
The arm arrogance is justified, as Chambliss can throw with authority to all levels of the field, but he will also zing the ball into obvious coverage with the presumed thought that he’s above the law, so to speak. He isn’t, and it wouldn’t take too much for his interception luck to turn in 2026, and for that to become painfully obvious.
Chambliss doesn’t need to get outside the pocket to see the middle of the field, which is a notable attribute for any smaller quarterback, but there are times when he’ll leave the pocket when he doesn’t need to. He also doesn’t always square his shoulders to the target, which leads to other inaccuracies.
It’s great that Chambliss can vary his velocity and ball flight on command, but there are times when he throws fastballs when off-speed pitches are required, and vice versa.
Overall, I would have placed Chambliss high on my list of 2026 quarterback prospect list had he made himself available for the draft — most likely an early second
But I would not be at all surprised if Chambliss comes out of the 2026 season higher on the 2027 QB draft list than people may imagine at this point in time.
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