Last month, Pete Golding was dealt the worst shocker in his fairly new head coaching job at Ole Miss when some leaked term sheets and contracts led to a mass exodus.
One of the Rebels' biggest losses was was their defensive green dot TJ Dottery.
Kiffin may or may not be behind leaking those documents, but he knew exactly what he was doing when he secured Dottery as soon as he entered the transfer portal.
Why Kiffin brought TJ Dottery to LSU
In his recent offseason media appearance, Kiffin explained why he locked Dottery in at LSU.
"I think TJ was really critical to me because when you come in, you want to bring coaches. You want to bring your strength coach. Nick Savage came with us. He does an amazing job with our kids," Kiffin said.
"But in your locker room, too, if you can bring a player that understands your culture and is an alpha and a leader, that was really important. To not just get somebody that's been such a good player that I have been with for three years but have gone through things with."
"Just kind of growing together and then you're able to bring them here. It was really great. I just love his story. When things happen to them, especially in his and all the guy does is just continue to work, continue to develop as a player. He has a personal situation that's been brought up, especially in him transferring, he gets re-brought up in something that he was a victim of."
The next question now would be whether Kiffin makes Dottery the green dot in the Tigers defense, or whether let Whit Weeks continue playing that part.
Either way, Kiffin scored a big one with the transfer, one that will surely keep the Tigers alive in their toughest games.