LSU sack leader Princewill Umanmielen has been served legal papers related to a July lawsuit filed by the University of Mississippi that alleges the former Rebels edge rusher owes the school $550,000 because of his decision to transfer to the rival Tigers.
Records filed in Lafayette County Civil Court in Mississippi indicate that papers were served Tuesday, just four days before No. 7 LSU is slated to visit No. 8 Mississippi in a game immersed in hype stemming from coach Lane Kiffin’s decision to leave the Rebels for the Tigers on Nov. 30.
A person familiar with the situation said Umanmielen was served outside LSU’s football operations complex. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because university officials have not commented publicly on the lawsuit between Mississippi and two former players who are now at LSU and who allegedly failed to compensate Mississippi for their departure as required by revenue-sharing agreements they signed in early January.
The other is offensive lineman Devin Harper, who allegedly owes Mississippi $400,000.
While legal issues between Mississippi and Umanmielen have gone unresolved for months, the timing of papers being served, first reported by ESPN, will only further pump up the intrigue surrounding Saturday night’s game in Oxford, Miss.
It will mark the first time Kiffin has returned to Oxford since being showered with insults by angry Rebels fans as he arrived at a small airport to catch a private plane to Baton Rouge.
Kiffin persuaded four players, including linebacker TJ Dottery and wide receiver Winston Watkins Jr., and a host of assistant coaches and other staff to follow him to LSU. Dottery is LSU’s leading tackler through two games and Watkins leads the Tigers in receiving yards.
College athletes have been able to transfer far more freely in recent years without having to sit out a year, as the NCAA formerly required. There have been scattered disputes between players and their former schools over compensation agreements. Earlier this year, Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. said he would return to the Huskies after the school reportedly was prepared to pursue legal options to enforce his lucrative name, image and likeness contract.
Mississippi has said revenue-sharing agreements signed by Umanmielen and Harper included a provision requiring them to compensate the university with a predetermined amount if they departed before fulfilling their commitment.
“The University of Mississippi has a responsibility to enforce its contractual terms, and this position is consistent with the actions of other institutions in the current landscape of college athletics,” the school’s statement said. “The university attempted to amicably resolve this matter prior to filing.”
Kiffin left the Rebels after their regular-season finale against Mississippi State in late November. He initially asked to continue coaching the Rebels in the College Football Playoff after he’d accepted the position at LSU, but Mississippi declined and appointed then-defensive coordinator Pete Golding as Kiffin’s replacement. Golding coached Mississippi to the national semifinals.
Umanmielen had nine sacks and 13 tackles for a loss as a junior last season for the Rebels. Harper was a freshman reserve in 2025, appearing in six games.
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