OXFORD, Miss — The transfer portal has been very kind to the Ole Miss Rebels in recent years. 2024 looks to be no different as 247 Sports awarded the rebels the number one transfer class going into the spring. At the head of the class, former Florida defensive end Princely Umanmielen.
Umanmielen spent four years in Gainesville and racked up quite a few tackles from his edge rusher position - 99 tackles, 24.5 tackles for a loss, 15.0 sacks and three forced fumbles.
Even though his production was solid, he felt something was missing and opted for the transfer portal. Quarterback Jaxson Dart was crucial in getting him on campus in Oxford.
"He would call me and Facetime me all the time," Umanmielen said of Dart's recruiting. "In my past schools, the quarterbacks were always to themselves or only talked to the offensive guys, but Jaxson he talks to everyone. He's involved with everyone."
Umanmielen admits that it has not sunk in that he won't be suiting up in Gainesville in the Fall, but he does have skills he wants to improve - most notably his run defense and pass drops.
He already feels like the coaching in Oxford has helped him level up.
"I feel like here I'm getting coached harder for things like that. I feel like at Florida, the way I was coached it was kind of like, it was almost as if like they was just telling me to go out there and use my talent, if that makes sense," Umanmielen said.
He praised analyst Lou Spanos and defensive line coach Randall Joyner for their hard coaching and attention to detail. He feels more confident in drop coverage as Spanos details where he should be and what routes may be coming to him. At Florida he'd have to "figure it out."
"“Here they go real into depth,” the senior said. “I feel like I’m actually getting developed.”
Umanmielen will get his first chance to show Rebels fans what he can do when Ole Miss plays their spring game on April 13.