Ole Miss could sue 2 players who followed Lane Kiffin to LSU

Ole Miss could sue two players who followed former Rebels coach Lane Kiffin to LSU and haven't yet paid their contract buyouts, athletic director Keith Carter told the Clarion Ledger in an interview last week.

Defensive lineman Princewill Umanmielen and offensive tackle Devin Harper both signed revenue-sharing deals after initially deciding to stay at Ole Miss and now join their former coach in Baton Rouge, La. However, both changed their minds and ended up transferring after spending one season each with the Rebels.

To get the money owed to the university for breaching those agreements, Carter said the school may need to take the players to court.

"That would be an option, going and asking a court to get that money for you," Carter told the Clarion Ledger. "Contracts are with the players. LSU could pay that on behalf of the players. So we're kind of exploring all of that right now."

Umanmielen transferred from Nebraska to Ole Miss ahead of the 2025 season, leading the Rebels in sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (13) along with 44 tackles, 13 quarterback hurries and one interception.

Harper was a four-star recruit in the 2025 class, appearing in six games as a true freshman for Ole Miss.

Carter declined to disclose how much money Ole Miss is owed, but On3 Sports reported that it's just under $1 million combined. Carter said it's traditional for the players' new schools to handle those buyouts, with Ole Miss covering a few for transfers it has added in the transfer portal era.

"Having signed a brand-new rev share contract basically a week or two before wanting to leave, those are the kind (of situations) that put you in a bind, especially there in the portal cycle," Carter said. "Those two we're going to continue to figure out how to collect. We feel like based on the contract we deserve to collect."

There's been no love lost this offseason between Kiffin and Ole Miss after he left for LSU a week before the Rebels made the College Football Playoff.

Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to interim coach and then full-time coach, leading Ole Miss to the CFP semifinals with wins over Tulane and Georgia before falling to Miami.

--Field Level Media