Princewill Umanmielen Back in the Portal-But Is Nebraska Even in the Conversation?
When Matt Rhule said Nebraska was going to be aggressive in the transfer portal, he wasn’t bluffing. The Huskers have already brought in 16 new faces this cycle, and by all accounts, they’ve spent heavily to do it. But now that former Husker Princewill Umanmielen is back on the market, the question becomes: is there anything left in the tank-or the budget-to make a run at one of the best edge rushers available?
Let’s be clear: Umanmielen isn’t just another name in the portal. He’s a game-changer.
After transferring from Nebraska to Ole Miss ahead of the 2025 season, he put together a monster year for the Rebels-45 tackles, 9 sacks, and even an interception to round out a complete stat line. That kind of production doesn’t just get noticed-it gets courted.
And now that he’s surprisingly re-entered the portal, the demand is as high as you’d expect for a player of his caliber.
His departure from Ole Miss caught many off guard. Earlier this month, Umanmielen had publicly committed to returning to the SEC.
But in this new era of college football, where NIL money talks loud and often, things can change quickly. Word is, the offers coming in were simply too good to pass up.
Nebraska’s Chances? Slim, But Not Zero
Let’s not sugarcoat it-Nebraska is a long shot here. Multiple programs with deeper pockets and clearer playoff paths are already in the mix.
LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Texas, and Texas Tech are reportedly leading the charge. These are schools with national ambitions, stacked rosters, and the kind of NIL war chests that can make things happen fast.
LSU, in particular, stands out. If Umanmielen were to land in Baton Rouge, he’d be reuniting with former Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin, who now leads the Tigers. That kind of continuity can be a major draw for a player looking to make an immediate impact on a big stage.
As for Nebraska, they’ve already done the heavy lifting in the portal this offseason. Sixteen additions is no small feat, and by all accounts, Rhule and his staff have executed their plan with precision. But when a player like Umanmielen becomes available-especially one who’s already worn the scarlet and cream-you at least have to pick up the phone.
Worth the Shot
Does Nebraska have the resources to compete with the likes of LSU or Texas in a bidding war? Probably not.
But this is more than just a financial equation. Umanmielen knows the program.
He knows the culture. And if there’s any emotional pull to return to Lincoln, that could at least give the Huskers a seat at the table.
Realistically, this is a long shot. But in college football, long shots sometimes hit-especially when there’s a connection already in place.
Nebraska’s done its portal work, no doubt. But if there’s even a sliver of a chance to bring Umanmielen back home, it’s worth exploring.
Because players like this don’t come around often. And when they do, you don’t want to be the program that didn’t even try.