Ole Miss has one of the top returning EDGE rushers in the country with Princely Umanmielen
Lane Kiffin once again racked up top transfer class and Ole Miss is continuing to see its newest additions to the roster be touted, nationally.
The 2024 college football season is still over five months away but next week provides the first glimpse of another new-look Ole Miss team with spring drills getting underway in earnest.
That includes Florida transfer Princely Umanmielen.
Adding to the the Rebels defensive front, that already included J.J. Pegues and Jared Ivey, was a key focus for Kiffin and defensive coordinator Pete Golding. The duo was successful by landing Umanmielen and Walter Nolen.
Nolen was just on the outside looking in of Pro Football Focus’ Top 10 returning interior linemen for 2024, but Umanmielen managed to get his way onto the Top 10 returning EDGE rushers of 2024.
Umanmielen is considered the seventh best returning player at the EDGE, according to PFF. The list was released on Thursday
The junior led the Gators with seven sacks last season and in tackles for loss with 11.5 for 53 yards. Umanmielen was fifth on the team in total tackles with 39.
This past season, Umanmielen ranked fourth among Power Five EDGE defenders in pass-rush win rate (22.2%). His 42 run-defense stops since 2022 are tied for second among that same group.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound frame of Umanmielen has already show it can be dominant in the Southeastern Conference. Golding and defensive line coach Randall Joyner will be asking for the same production but on a more consistent level from Umanmielen.
If the Ole Miss defensive line can reach the potential that the presumed starting four posses as a combined group then it could be one of the stingiest defensive fronts not just in the SEC but all of college football.
Here is the full Top 10 of returning EDGE rushers in 2024:
- James Pearce, Jr. – Tennessee
- Nic Scourton – Texas A&M
- Jack Sawyer – Ohio State
- Kaimon Rucker – North Carolina
- Ashton Gillotte – Louisville
- Rueben Bain, Jr. – Miami
- Princely Umanmielen – Ole Miss
- JT Tuimoloau – Ohio State
- Josaiah Stewart – Michigan
- Abdul Carter – Penn State
