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OXFORD — Ole Miss is taking two of its former football players to court.
Ole Miss filed civil complaints against LSU football defensive end Princewill Umanmielen and LSU offensive lineman Devin Harper on July 27 in the circuit court of Lafayette County.
In the filings obtained by the Clarion Ledger, Ole Miss seeking almost $1 million between the two lawsuits for unreceived payments.
John Kelly Luther is listed as the presiding judge in the lawsuit against Umanmielen. Kent E. Smith is listed as the presiding judge in the lawsuit against Harper.
Both lawsuits come with a similar four-page complaint for a breach of contract. It concerns the departures of both players after the conclusion of the 2025 season.
The lawsuit says that Umanmielen, who led the Rebels with nine sacks in 2025, signed an updated revenue sharing agreement with Ole Miss on or around Jan. 3 to stay with the Rebels for the 2026 season. Harper signed a similar updated revenue sharing agreement with Ole Miss on Jan. 6, according to court filings.
Both agreements contained penalties for voluntarily breaching that contract in a 90-day window (the early-termination period) which both players wound up breaking. Harper signed an agreement with LSU on Jan. 16, according to the lawsuit, and Umanmielen did the same on Jan. 21.
Ole Miss is seeking Umanmielen's penalty ($550,000) and Harper's penalty ($400,000) as well as litigation fees resulting from the lawsuit.
It has become common for universities to pay incoming players' buyouts, but the lawsuits must be filed against the players because they are the ones who breached the contract. Athletic director Keith Carter told the Clarion Ledger July 13 that said Ole Miss has paid similar buyouts on behalf of incoming players.
Ole Miss will host former Rebels coach Lane Kiffin and LSU at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Sept. 19 in Week 3 of the 2026 season.
Ole Miss provided the Clarion Ledger with the following statement and timeline regarding the lawsuits on July 29.
The University of Mississippi values its student-athletes and is committed to honoring all obligations made to them. In return, the university expects that same commitment from its student-athletes and their representatives in upholding their contracts. Before transferring to another institution, student-athletes Devin Harper and Princewill Umanmielen signed revenue sharing agreements that 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 university attempted to amicably resolve this matter prior to filing. Timelines are outlined below.
Harper:
1/6/26 (8:19 a.m.) - Harper signed Revenue Sharing Agreement with UM
1/14/26 (7:36 p.m.) - Harper entered transfer portal
1/16/26 (1:23 p.m.) - Harper signed scholarship with LSU
1/16/26 - UM sent letter to Harper requesting payment (no response)
2/13/26 - 30-day deadline to make payment is reached (no response)
3/12/26 - UM contacted LSU requesting payment on Harper’s behalf
3/18/26 - LSU denied payment stating they are not a party to the contract
7/27/26 - UM filed suit for breach of contract
7/27/26 - UM contacted Harper and LSU requesting payment to avoid additional costs
Umanmielen:
1/3/26 (10:02 p.m.) - Umanmielen signed Revenue Sharing Agreement with UM
1/20/26 (11:40 p.m.) - Umanmielen entered transfer portal
1/21/26 (9:59 a.m.) - Umanmielen signed scholarship with LSU
1/22/26 - UM sent letter to Umanmielen requesting payment (no response)
2/19/26 - 30-day deadline to make payment is reached (no response)
3/12/26 - UM contacted LSU requesting payment on Umanmielen’s behalf
3/18/26 - LSU denied payment stating they are not a party to the contract
7/27/26 - UM filed suit for breach of contract
7/27/26 - UM contacted Umanmielen and LSU requesting payment to avoid additional costs
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Exclusive: Ole Miss files lawsuit vs LSU players Princewill Umanmielen, Devin Harper
Continue reading...
Ole Miss filed civil complaints against LSU football defensive end Princewill Umanmielen and LSU offensive lineman Devin Harper on July 27 in the circuit court of Lafayette County.
In the filings obtained by the Clarion Ledger, Ole Miss seeking almost $1 million between the two lawsuits for unreceived payments.
John Kelly Luther is listed as the presiding judge in the lawsuit against Umanmielen. Kent E. Smith is listed as the presiding judge in the lawsuit against Harper.
Both lawsuits come with a similar four-page complaint for a breach of contract. It concerns the departures of both players after the conclusion of the 2025 season.
The lawsuit says that Umanmielen, who led the Rebels with nine sacks in 2025, signed an updated revenue sharing agreement with Ole Miss on or around Jan. 3 to stay with the Rebels for the 2026 season. Harper signed a similar updated revenue sharing agreement with Ole Miss on Jan. 6, according to court filings.
Both agreements contained penalties for voluntarily breaching that contract in a 90-day window (the early-termination period) which both players wound up breaking. Harper signed an agreement with LSU on Jan. 16, according to the lawsuit, and Umanmielen did the same on Jan. 21.
Ole Miss is seeking Umanmielen's penalty ($550,000) and Harper's penalty ($400,000) as well as litigation fees resulting from the lawsuit.
It has become common for universities to pay incoming players' buyouts, but the lawsuits must be filed against the players because they are the ones who breached the contract. Athletic director Keith Carter told the Clarion Ledger July 13 that said Ole Miss has paid similar buyouts on behalf of incoming players.
Ole Miss will host former Rebels coach Lane Kiffin and LSU at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Sept. 19 in Week 3 of the 2026 season.
Ole Miss statement
Ole Miss provided the Clarion Ledger with the following statement and timeline regarding the lawsuits on July 29.
The University of Mississippi values its student-athletes and is committed to honoring all obligations made to them. In return, the university expects that same commitment from its student-athletes and their representatives in upholding their contracts. Before transferring to another institution, student-athletes Devin Harper and Princewill Umanmielen signed revenue sharing agreements that 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 university attempted to amicably resolve this matter prior to filing. Timelines are outlined below.
Harper:
1/6/26 (8:19 a.m.) - Harper signed Revenue Sharing Agreement with UM
1/14/26 (7:36 p.m.) - Harper entered transfer portal
1/16/26 (1:23 p.m.) - Harper signed scholarship with LSU
1/16/26 - UM sent letter to Harper requesting payment (no response)
2/13/26 - 30-day deadline to make payment is reached (no response)
3/12/26 - UM contacted LSU requesting payment on Harper’s behalf
3/18/26 - LSU denied payment stating they are not a party to the contract
7/27/26 - UM filed suit for breach of contract
7/27/26 - UM contacted Harper and LSU requesting payment to avoid additional costs
Umanmielen:
1/3/26 (10:02 p.m.) - Umanmielen signed Revenue Sharing Agreement with UM
1/20/26 (11:40 p.m.) - Umanmielen entered transfer portal
1/21/26 (9:59 a.m.) - Umanmielen signed scholarship with LSU
1/22/26 - UM sent letter to Umanmielen requesting payment (no response)
2/19/26 - 30-day deadline to make payment is reached (no response)
3/12/26 - UM contacted LSU requesting payment on Umanmielen’s behalf
3/18/26 - LSU denied payment stating they are not a party to the contract
7/27/26 - UM filed suit for breach of contract
7/27/26 - UM contacted Umanmielen and LSU requesting payment to avoid additional costs
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at [email protected] or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Exclusive: Ole Miss files lawsuit vs LSU players Princewill Umanmielen, Devin Harper
Continue reading...
