Princewill Umanmielen downplays LSU as a rebuild program in 2026: 'We trying to go all the way'

There may be talk of patience and long-term building around LSU’s new era under Lane Kiffin. Inside the locker room however, that message isn’t landing the same way.

At least not for Princewill Umanmielen. The former Ole Miss standout made it clear that, despite outside narratives labeling LSU as a program in transition, the mindset internally is anything but a rebuild.

“This ain’t no first year build thing,” Umanmielen said, per Chessa Bouche of Louisiana First News. “We trying to go all the way. If that’s the mindset, if you’ve got like, a rebuilding mindset, this ain’t the place. We trying to go all the way. So, that’s our mindset right now.”

That confidence reflects both LSU’s talent level and the expectations that come with a program of its stature. Even as Kiffin himself has urged caution.

After arriving in Baton Rouge following a College Football Playoff run at Ole Miss, Kiffin has consistently emphasized that success doesn’t happen overnight. LSU is coming off a 7-6 season, and while the roster has been aggressively reshaped through recruiting and the transfer portal, there’s still significant work to be done.

“Things don’t happen overnight,” Kiffin said recently. “It takes a lot of work to get a program up to an elite performing level.” Still, players like Umanmielen aren’t interested in timelines. They’re focused on results. And he’s a big reason why that belief exists.

Umanmielen enters the 2026 season as one of the most impactful defensive additions in the country. After earning All-SEC third-team honors at Ole Miss in 2025, he brings proven production to Baton Rouge, finishing last season with 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, nine sacks and an interception.

At 6-foot-5, 245 pounds, he fits perfectly into defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme. One designed to create chaos in opposing backfields. With one year of eligibility remaining, Umanmielen could have tested the NFL Draft waters. Instead, he chose LSU, betting on both development and the chance to compete at the highest level.

His journey to this point has been steady. After beginning his career at Nebraska, where he flashed potential across two seasons, Umanmielen broke out at Ole Miss, following in the footsteps of his brother Princely, who turned a dominant season into a third-round NFL Draft selection.

Now, the younger Umanmielen is aiming even higher. He joins an LSU roster loaded with talent, including key additions like quarterback Sam Leavitt, as Kiffin attempts to recreate the formula that led Ole Miss to the national semifinals.

The question isn’t whether LSU has the pieces. It’s whether they can come together quickly enough. Kiffin may preach patience, but inside the building, the expectation is already clear. For players like Umanmielen, this isn’t a rebuild, it’s a run.

— On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this article.