Princewill Umanmielen picks LSU football from transfer portal
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BATON ROUGE – Lane Kiffin has landed another one of his former players from Ole Miss.
And this one is a big one for LSU football. Junior defensive end Princewill Umanmielen has signed with LSU, he announced Wednesday, Jan. 21, via Instagram. Umanmielen entered the transfer portal last week and LSU was considered the favorite to land him if he didn’t decide to return to the Rebels.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pounder is rated the top edge rusher in the portal, per the 247Sports Composite. Umanmielen has one year of eligibility remaining. He’s the fourth former Ole Miss to transfer to LSU this offseason, joining offensive lineman Devin Harper, linebacker TJ Dottery and wide receiver Winston Watkins.
Last season at Ole Miss, he racked up 44 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks and added an interception.
Why Princewill Umanmielen picked LSU football out of transfer portal
This one is two fold. Umanmielen is following Kiffin from Oxford to Baton Rouge and there’s desire to continue that relationship. But more than that, the defensive end wants to improve his NFL Draft stock in a defensive scheme different than the one Pete Golding runs at Ole Miss.
LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker uses blitzes and pass rush a little more and, for Umanmielen, that’s likely what he wants to put more of on film for NFL scouts.
How Princewill Umanmielen fits with LSU football’s roster
Kiffin and Baker have been in the market for defensive ends this transfer portal cycle. And while they’ve already landed a good one in Tennessee’s Jordan Ross, there was still room for elite pass rushers.
That’s where Umanmielen fits in. The expectation is that Umanmielen comes right in and starts day one for the Tigers. He’s good enough and has more SEC experience in just about any other defensive end on LSU’s roster.
LSU football transfer targets
- Missouri edge rusher Damon Wilson
- Colorado offensive lineman Jordan Seaton
When did transfer portal close?
The NCAA transfer portal window closed Jan. 16. Players are no longer permitted to enter their name in the portal. However, those whose names were already in the transfer portal can still decide and sign with a new school after Jan. 16.
Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: How transfer portal DE Princewill Umanmielen fits with LSU football
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