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.”
