Princely Umanmielen updates his health entering 2024

Princely Umanmielen is one of the players for Ole Miss currently in a no-contact designated jersey. However, he’s doing just fine health-wise from what he said on Monday.

Umanmielen was speaking with the media yesterday when a reporter asked him about the black jersey he had on. He clarified that he’s healthy despite it but that he’s not taking any contact right now during the Rebels’ fall camp.

“I’m doing good. I’m taking it day by day, you know what I’m saying?” said Umanmielen. “I’m taking it day by day but I’m feeling really good. It’s just that I just can’t do any, like, physical contact.”

Again, this doesn’t sound too concerning based on the latest out of Oxford for fall practice. Other than Umanmielen, players like Walter Nolen and Izaiah Hartrup also had black jerseys on during Monday’s session. That continues the trend of several others who have donned them during camp over the last week or so.

In general, it seems to be more of a cautious approach by Ole Miss than anything else, including for Umanmielen.

Umanmielen is important for the Rebels as one of their top transfers in this incoming class. Through four seasons at Florida, he posted 99 tackles, 24.5 being for loss, and 15 sacks with three forced fumbles. That includes a career year last fall for the Gators with 39 tackles, 11.5 going for loss, and seven sacks. The sacks were good for a team and career-high for him.

With that resumé, Umanmielen was the No. 12 overall transfer and No. 2 DE per On3’s 2024 Transfer Portal Top Players. That made him the second highest-rated addition besides Nolen (No. 2, No. 1 DL) for the No. 3 portal class for Ole Miss in On3’s 2024 Team Transfer Portal Rankings.

Every program wants to enter the season as healthy as possible. That’s why Ole Miss is being as careful as they are with Umanmielen, who is already good for this fall, and the Rebels.

How Nolen, Umanmielen can be difference-makers in Oxford

On3’s Andy Staples and Cody Bellaire spoke on Friday about the top transfers in college football.

In doing so, they highlighted Ole Miss‘ defensive haul. Bellaire was particularly excited by the work that Lane Kiffin did when it came to the Rebels’ defensive front in two massive additions.

“We talk about a guy like Walter Nolen, right – the transfer from Texas A&M. But they got an absolute horse in Princely Umanmielen from Florida as well,” noted Bellaire. “These are two of the most sought-after defensive linemen in the transfer portal this cycle and both of them end up in Oxford.”

“These are two guys who could end up as Top-100 NFL Draft picks. Like, almost locks at this point.”

Nolen comes in highly-touted. Still, to make those ultimate dreams happen, Bellaire declares that the he has to finally meet that potential. However, a threat like Umanmielen will only help fully unlock him now.

“I think it’s about living up to their potential. These are players, Nolen in particular? Five-star player coming out of high school, one of the top-rated prospects in that loaded A&M defensive cycle that year. We need to see that five-star show up.”

“I think the addition of Princely Umanmielen on the edge will allow Walter Nolen to get some singled-up shots in the interior and they are going to cause havoc for opposing offenses.”