Ole Miss defensive tackle DeSanto Rollins is suing football coach Lane Kiffin and the University of Mississippi for failure to provide equal protection, racial and sexual discrimination, and other allegations.
Rollins said he recently was kicked off the team for missing practices and team meetings due to what he described as a “mental health crisis,” according to the lawsuit obtained by ESPN’s Heather Dinich. However, in a statement released Thursday night to ESPN, Ole Miss said “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.” Kiffin declined comment and deferred to the statement made by the university.
As part of the lawsuit filed Thursday, Rollins is seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages. Rollins alleges that Kiffin took action against him “on account of race for requesting and taking a mental health break, but not taking adverse action against white student athletes [for similar reasons],“ per the lawsuit. Rollins also alleges sexual discrimination against Ole Miss, stating the university has not taken “adverse action against female student-athletes for requesting and taking a mental health break.”
Rollins has suffered multiple injuries throughout his career with the Rebels, including a concussion and a right Achilles injury, which took place in the spring and summer of 2022. As a result of the injuries, his lawsuit states that he dealt with “severe depression, anxiety, frustration, embarrassment, humiliation, a loss of sleep and a loss of appetite.” Rollins also stated in the suit that the university did not provide any guidance in regard to the mental health support he sought as a result of the depression and anxiety he was feeling following the injuries.
During fall camp in August, he aggravated an injury in his left knee and had what he described as “severe depression.”
In November, Rollins met with defensive line coach Randall Joyner. During that meeting, Rollins alleges that Joyner tried to persuade him to enter the transfer portal, which Rollins was unwilling to do. On Jan. 6, 2023, Rollins’s grandmother died, and as a result of her death, Rollins “continued to suffer severe depression,” per the lawsuit. Rollins said he met in February with Kiffin, who told him that he planned to move Rollins to scout team offensive line because he wouldn’t transfer. According to the suit, Rollins asked Kiffin whether it was “a choice or command,” and Kiffin allegedly stated that “if he didn’t like it then he should quit.”
Rollins told Kiffin he was taking a mental health break following the meeting, and his mother, Connie Hollins, contacted Ole Miss athletic director Pat Jernigan to inform him of her son’s decision. Jernigan set up a meeting for Rollins with Josie Nicholson, who is the school’s assistant athletic director for sport psychology. Nicholson encouraged Rollins to take a step back and to meet with her again March 7 for a follow-up session. When Rollins met with Nicholson in March, she informed Rollins that Kiffin wanted to speak with him. Rollins replied he wasn’t ready to do so, and he didn’t meet with Kiffin until March 21.
According to the lawsuit, Rollins legally recorded Kiffin without his consent at the March 21 meeting. As part of the testy exchange, Kiffin allegedly said, “Get out of here. Go, you’re off the team. You’re done. See ya. Go. And guess what? We can kick you off the team. So go read your f---ing rights about mental health. We can kick you off the team for not showing up. When the head coach asks to meet with you and you don’t show up for weeks, we can remove you from the team. It’s called being a p---y. It’s called hiding behind s--- and not showing up to work.”
Rollins’s suit further stated that “as a proximate result of actions and inactions of the defendants … Rollins has suffered physical pain and emotional distress and anguish.” He also cited a “mental impairment” for being kicked off the team due to a mental health disability, which the lawsuit says is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Rollins is on track to graduate from Ole Miss in December. He has played in just three games in his collegiate career as a backup defensive lineman.
