The University of Mississippi is suing two former football players who transferred to Louisiana State University, alleging they did not fulfill financial obligations outlined in revenue-sharing agreements they signed earlier this year.
The lawsuits, filed Monday in Lafayette County Circuit Court in Oxford, Mississippi, target edge rusher Princewill Umanmielen and offensive lineman Devin Harper. Ole Miss is seeking $550,000 from Umanmielen and $400,000 from Harper.
The legal action comes in the wake of former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s departure for LSU late last season. LSU declined to comment Wednesday. The university claims the players failed to compensate Ole Miss as required by their agreements, which included provisions for repayment if they transferred before fulfilling their commitments.
College athletes have gained increased transfer flexibility in recent years, moving without sitting out a year. Disputes over compensation agreements have also arisen, with some athletes, such as Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr., reportedly pursuing legal options related to name, image, and likeness contracts.
Ole Miss emphasized its commitment to honoring obligations to student-athletes and said it attempted to resolve the matter amicably before filing suit. The school also noted that revenue-sharing agreements signed by the players included clauses requiring repayment if they left early.
Kiffin left Ole Miss after the team’s regular-season finale against Mississippi State in late November. He initially sought to coach the Rebels in the College Football Playoff after accepting the LSU job, but Ole Miss declined and appointed defensive coordinator Pete Golding as interim coach. Golding led Ole Miss to the national semifinals. Following the coaching change, Umanmielen and Harper transferred to LSU. Umanmielen recorded nine sacks and 13 tackles for loss last season, while Harper appeared in six games as a freshman.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
