SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 23, 2026

TJ Dottery

LSU Tigers

Press Conference

Q. Chris Kiffin was there at Ole Miss with you, come down here. What's your relationship like with him and what have you learned from him? Is there a big difference between Lane and Chris being brothers and coaches?

TJ DOTTERY: My relationship with Chris is awesome. I think it's also bigger than football. I feel like I can talk to Coach Chris about anything regardless football or just life.

He also helped me move and get my stuff from Oxford. So he's been helping me in life in general. It's awesome. He's a great coach, and he's taught me a lot on the field as well.

As far as the comparison between him and Coach Kiffin, I feel like Coach Chris Kiffin is a little more talkative and outgoing than Coach Lane, but they're very similar in the way they act and think, for sure.

Q. (Audio issues)?

TJ DOTTERY: Yes, the biggest factor for me, honestly, was LSU itself, about the rich history and defense and talented players they've had -- on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. I felt like that was an opportunity I could see myself being a part of.

Q. By coming here today and them choosing you to come, do you feel like they are kind of putting you out front as a leader and a guy that they're looking to to this year to win football games?

TJ DOTTERY: Yes, sir, for sure. I think it just speaks to who I am as a person and how I carry myself, for sure. And I'm blessed for this opportunity and very thankful.

Q. Obviously as a transfer in, Blake Baker is the defensive coordinator. Obviously has a big hand with the linebackers. What's been your impression of Blake and your relationship with him so far?

TJ DOTTERY: It's been awesome. Coach Baker is amazing. His intelligence for the game is phenomenal. The type of person he is even better. I can talk to him about anything. His energy he brings, him even wearing cleats to practice is awesome. When we make a play he's almost on the field with us.

The first time I actually made a play, he jumped on me and kind of scared me. Like, just that energy, I love it. I love it.

Q. You've been around college football for a while. Is there an SEC team you haven't played yet that you're looking forward to this year?

TJ DOTTERY: That I haven't played yet that I'm looking forward to? For sure. I love every opportunity to play football. But me being from Alabama, I think since I haven't played Alabama or Auburn yet, I think that would be cool, for sure.

Q. You played against LSU last year. Had a phenomenal game. What is different this year about being on the inside of the program instead of preparing against it?

TJ DOTTERY: The energy, the excitement from, honestly, the fans. You can tell how much they love LSU and love football down here. It's just awesome and how much they embrace us is amazing.

Q. As a linebacker, what are the first two things you're reading after the snap that tell you whether it's an inside run, outside run or a pass?

TJ DOTTERY: My triangle from guard to center, to running back, being able to read all those at the same time and seeing the footwork of the O line and also the footwork of the back and allowing that to match up, because a lot of teams have tendencies, and that shows a lot.

Q. You were kind of known in Oxford for your personality a little bit and just your positivity and the energy that you bring into the locker room. What was that transition like for you to the LSU locker room? And how have you kind of stayed true to yourself and stayed true to your positivity and your encouragement?

TJ DOTTERY: The transition has been great, honestly. And that can attest to the type of people we have on the team from even the returners, like the Whit Weeks and Bo Bordelon, guys that know what it's like to be at LSU and have been here for a while.

And them embracing me and just telling me to just continue to be myself. I feel like that's made it the easiest, me just being able to be myself and be the guy I am, and they like me for that.

Q. You already touched on what it's going to mean to you to play Alabama. But you've got to go to Auburn, close to home; you're a Montgomery kid. What's that going to mean to you, that trip to Jordan-Hare?

TJ DOTTERY: It's going to be awesome. Growing up in high school always going to the games and having a familiarity with like that stadium, it's going to be awesome. Just that 45-minute drive for the family and everybody in the hometown to be able to come watch the game, it's going to be awesome.

Q. You and Whit Weeks are very similar, high-energy, positive guys. How has that relationship been? I mean, it could get a little feisty, but you guys seem to be really close.

TJ DOTTERY: Yes, I could be completely honest. On my visit here, I was worried until I met him. He's awesome. Like you said, we have a lot of the same similarities and characteristics. I feel like we've just been feeding off each other, just a lot of positive, high-energy vibes.

Q. Whit spoke very highly of Ty Benefield. Your coaches are high on him, call him a freak, a monster, in a positive way, obviously. Give us some thoughts on him. What are you seeing out of this guy?

TJ DOTTERY: He's awesome. The athlete, the football player, and even better person. You can tell the game and the team means a lot to him as a person.

And then the way he just carries himself. Me, Whit and (indiscernible), we had a team run at 6:00 a.m. yesterday morning. And he was in there at 5:30 catching jugs. And his ability to bring players along with him, he had another player along, just his ability to talk to people and try to bring them and push them to get better. He's amazing.

Q. Open up the season against Clemson, a team you've played with before. What are some of the qualities that you might be telling some of the new guys to expect out of that Clemson team?

TJ DOTTERY: Definitely. A disciplined team, especially under Coach Swinney, a disciplined well-rounded team full of talent. And, of course, some of the guys that played last year, a lot of the returning guys played them last year, so they know what to look for. But it's another opportunity to play football. I'm excited.

Q. Obviously at the top of your list are team goals. What individual goals other than see ball, attack the ball are you interested in attaining to get to those team goals?

TJ DOTTERY: For sure. I think just continuing to better my game. Goals of my mine are continuing to be better at being able to see formational tells, to be faster and just help my team and put my team in better down and distances to allow the pass rushers to pass rush and DBs to cover. Just better my game whole roundedly to help the team.

Q. Of course, with your Clemson history, starting up your first game with LSU, as if it needs more attention with game day there, Coach Kiffin, Clemson coming into town, how will you manage the emotions? What do you think you'll be feeling between your first team and your current team and the mindset you'll tell yourself before heading out there?

TJ DOTTERY: Another opportunity to play football, honestly. I had a great time at Clemson. Built some great relationships with coaches and staff. I can even call Coach Swinney now. We can talk right now. He's awesome.

I don't think the emotions would be too high. Just another opportunity to play football.

Q. You guys have talked all morning about sort of bringing that monster mentality back to the LSU defense. What is an element or a person within the defense that you think is going to surprise a lot of people?

TJ DOTTERY: The energy and self-driven within everybody. I can name specific guys for sure, like Ty Benefield, PJ Woodland. But the entire defense as a whole in the whole group, you can tell they're so self-driven, have something to prove.

I'm excited to just watch that. Everybody wants to get better and have something to prove on the team.