Reports: Ole Miss DE Princewill Umanmielen Set to Enter NCAA Transfer Portal
by Evelyn Van Pelt | Jan 15, 2026 | Football |
OXFORD, Miss. — Reports suggest another major piece of Ole Miss’ defensive front could soon be on the move. Defensive end Princewill Umanmielen has entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report from On3, dealing the Rebels a late-window setback just one day before the portal closes on Jan. 16.
The timing adds to the impact. Umanmielen’s decision comes on the same day Ole Miss learned starting linebacker TJ Dottery had also entered the portal, along with defensive lineman Da’Shawn Womack, creating sudden movement at two key positions on the defensive side of the ball. It also comes less than two weeks after the program publicly announced that Umanmielen planned to return to Oxford for the 2026 season.
A 6-foot-5 edge defender, Umanmielen was one of the most productive players on the roster in 2025 and quickly established himself as a cornerstone of the Rebels’ pass rush in his first season with the program. He finished the year with a team-high nine sacks while adding 44 total tackles, consistently impacting games off the edge and becoming a focal point of Ole Miss’ defensive pressure packages.
With that production, Umanmielen immediately becomes one of the top defensive ends available in the portal — a player with proven SEC output and starting experience. His departure leaves a notable hole in a unit that leaned heavily on its front seven during a deep postseason run.
For Ole Miss, the late exit could force a quick pivot as the staff evaluates options to reinforce the edge rotation before the window closes. Whether through the portal or internal development, replacing Umanmielen’s production will be one of the more pressing challenges of the offseason.
As the clock winds down on the portal cycle, Ole Miss now finds itself navigating sudden change — and searching for answers in the trenches once again.
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Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception. Email Evie at: Evie@TheRebelWalk.com
