Ole Miss star edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen signs with LSU

Ole Miss junior EDGE Princewill Umanmielen shocked the Rebels by entering the NCAA Transfer Portal on January 15, but he appears to have already found his new home.

The No. 3 overall prospect in the On3 Industry Portal Rankings is reuniting with Lane Kiffin and LSU after signing to join the Tigers’ program, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Umanmielen was named All-SEC third-team in 2025 for the Rebels, totaling 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, nine sacks and an interceptions. He was a focal point for a defense that helped lead Ole Miss to its best season in school history and a berth in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

With one season of eligibility left though, he will join the Tigers and give Blake Baker’s defense an enormous boost through the portal.

Prior to his time in Oxford, the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder spent two seasons at Nebraska after signing with the Huskers in the Class of 2023. Across 23 games in Lincoln, he totaled 35 tackles, 7 TFLs and 1.5 sacks, while flashing the kind of potential he lived up to at Ole Miss. His decision to transfer to Oxford was preceded by his brother Princely Umanmielen, moving from Florida to Ole Miss ahead of the 2024 season.

Tigers reloading in the portal for 2026

Princely finished his lone year at Ole Miss with 37 tackles, 13.5 TFLs and 10.5 sacks and led to him being drafted in the third round of the NFL Draft by Carolina in 2025. Princewill, who could’ve entered the draft after this past season, will look to boost his stock even more in Baker’s aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme.

His departure is big one for Pete Golding and Co., who have also seen standout junior Dashawn Womack enter his name into the portal as well. Womack spent his first two seasons at LSU but broke through in 2025 with 27 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks.

The addition of Umanmielen boosts LSU’s top-5 portal class, which sits behind only Texas Tech, Indiana, and Texas A&M. Kiffin and his staff have reeled in the the portal’s No. 1 player, quarterback Sam Leavitt, as well as former USC five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet, four-star pass rusher Jordan Ross, along with Umanmielen. They’re also one of the top schools for offensive tackle Jordan Seaton, the top available transfer in the portal.