Former Ole Miss defensive tackle DeSanto Rollins has filed a federal lawsuit against the school and head coach Lane Kiffin, claiming he was the subject of racial and sexual discrimination as he battled a mental health crisis. The lawsuit seeks $10 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi Oxford Division.
A 3-star defensive lineman out of Baton Rouge, Rollins signed as a member of Ole Miss's 2020 recruiting class, Kiffin's first as the Rebels' head coach. He redshirted in 2020, appeared in one game in 2021, and in 2022 suffered a concussion during the spring and injured his right Achilles tendon that July. He appeared in two games that season.
All the while, the lawsuit says Rollins battled multiple mental health crises, dealing with "severe depression."
According to the lawsuit, Rollins's position coach, Randall Joyner, encouraged him to enter the transfer portal in a meeting last November, but Rollins refused. Rollins's grandmother passed away on Jan. 6, at which time he "continued to suffer severe depression."
The situation came to a head this past spring. On Feb. 27, according to the suit, Rollins met with Kiffin, who informed him he'd move to the scout team offensive line. Rollins then told Kiffin he was going to "take a mental break."
He met with Ole Miss assistant AD for sport psychology Josie Nicholson some time after, and the two met for a second time on March 7. Nicholson informed Rollins that Kiffin had requested to meet, but Rollins declined to meet with Kiffin until March 21.
In that March 21 meeting, Kiffin informed Rollins he was no longer part of the team. Here is a transcript, legally recorded by Rollins without Kiffin's knowledge and provided in the lawsuit:
"We have not received a lawsuit," Ole Miss said in a statement to ESPN on Thursday. "DeSanto was never removed from the football team and remains on scholarship. In addition, he continues to have the opportunity to receive all of the resources and advantages that are afforded a student-athlete at the university."
This summer, Ole Miss touted that it had its entire athletics staff mental health first aid certified.
Rollins is still listed on the Rebels' online roster.
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