Khari Coleman next up for Ole Miss defense with Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul off to the NFL
TJ Dottery is a face of the present and future for the Ole Miss defense.
The present because he’ll wrap a year of starting at linebacker in the Gator Bowl. Dottery and the No. 14 Rebels (9-3, 5-3 SEC) take on Duke (9-3, 5-3 ACC) Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
The future because Dottery will be one of the few returners for a new-look unit next season.
Expectations, though, remain the same. They never changed for the bowl, even if Dottery’s co-starter, Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul opted out to get a jump-start on NFL Draft prep.
“It’s really important to me,” Dottery said after practice in Jacksonville (Fla.) this week. “Finishing the right way with all the guys, especially the senior class. Regardless of whether they’ve been here a year or three years, I feel like I’ve made a bond with them. I feel like it’s only right for me to send them out the right way.”
Paul, safety Jadon Canady and offensive tackle Micah Pettus are the notable Rebels not playing. Canady is in the transfer portal. Pettus was dismissed after the season. He’s now at Florida State.
Ole Miss is pretty much whole otherwise.
Third-year quarterback Jaxson Dart led a group of draft-eligible players who, last month, announced their intentions to finish out the 2024-25 campaign in Jacksonville.
He was joined by, among others, cornerback Trey Amos, defensive linemen JJ Pegues, Jared Ivey and Princely Umanmielen, wide receiver Jordan Watkins and tight end Caden Prieskorn. Amos is a first-round projection, according to Pro Football Focus.
“It was awesome, man,” Dottery said. “That makes the game even more exciting for me, just to be able to get a last game with them. Just for them to show they care. It was more than their stats and their accolades. They really cared about the team.”
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Dottery handled the pre-snap calls for Ole Miss this season.
He had 10 or more tackles in four games and finished the regular season with 75 total. Dottery added 2.0 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
“It’s been the same,” Dottery said of getting ready for Duke without Paul. “I think I’ve handled it well all year. It’s kind of the same.”
Paul will be replaced by veteran Khari Coleman. Ole Miss enters play atop the nation in sacks (4.3) and tackles for loss (9.7) per game.
“Khari has been good,” Dottery said. “He’s been very vocal this week with Pooh not being here. When I’m out of the box, he’s in the box and able to control the linebackers and safeties. He’s been doing great at that.”
