Ole Miss files suit against 2 former players who followed Lane Kiffin to LSU over exit fees in revenue-sharing agreements

Ole Miss has filed a lawsuit as it attempts to recoup money it says is owed after players Devin Harper and Princewill Umanmielen followed Lane Kiffin to LSU.

The school filed the civil complaints on Monday in Lafayette County, Mississippi, court. The school said in a statement to multiple media outlets that both players signed revenue-sharing agreements to stay with the Rebels for the 2026 season before they transferred to LSU.

Per the suits, obtained by multiple media outlets, Umanmielen signed his revenue-sharing agreement on Jan. 3, and Harper signed his on Jan. 6. Ole Miss says Umanmielen owes more than $500,000 for breaking his agreement, and Harper's exit fee is $400,000 because they both left within weeks of signing their deals.

"The University of Mississippi values its student-athletes and is committed to honoring all obligations made to them," the school said. "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."

Ole Miss was still playing in the College Football Playoff under new coach Pete Golding at the time in question. Kiffin infamously attempted to coach Ole Miss in the postseason after deciding he wanted to go to LSU, but Ole Miss instead appointed Golding, the team's defensive coordinator, as his replacement and immediately put Golding in charge for the playoff.

The transfer portal for Ole Miss players opened after the team was eliminated from the playoff with a loss to Miami in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8. According to the school, Harper officially entered the transfer portal on Jan. 14, and Umanmielen entered on Jan. 20. Each player signed with LSU within days.

Umanmielen led the team with nine sacks in 2025, while Harper appeared in six games as a freshman. Harper is a native of Louisiana who signed with Ole Miss out of high school. Umanmielen is from Austin, Texas, and transferred to Ole Miss ahead of the 2025 season after two years with Nebraska.