​OXFORD — Ole Miss football has been awaiting buyout payments from LSU players Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper for about six months, according to Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter. In a July 10 interview with the Clarion Ledger, which touched on a range of topics, Carter said that taking the matter to court is one of the options Ole Miss is weighing to ensure the buyouts are paid. “That would be an option, going and asking a court to get that money for you,” Carter said. “Contracts are with the players. LSU could pay that on behalf of the players. So we’re kind of exploring all of that right now.”
Umanmielen, who was a standout edge rusher for the Rebels in 2025, and Harper, a promising sophomore offensive lineman, owe Ole Miss a buyout after transferring to LSU in the offseason and joining new Tigers coach Lane Kiffin. The two signed revenue-sharing contracts to stay at Ole Miss before reversing course and entering the transfer portal. Umanmielen entered the portal on Jan. 15, nine days after it was announced he would return to Ole Miss. On3 reported that Umanmielen’s and Harper’s buyout payments total just under $1 million, though Carter would not disclose the exact amounts Ole Miss expects for each player.
“I don’t really want to comment on that,” Carter said. “It was significant. They were good players.” Revenue-sharing contracts are distinct from NIL agreements managed through collectives. Revenue-sharing deals are contracts between the school and a player that explicitly outline payments and buyouts, whereas NIL arrangements concern supplementary income opportunities through collectives. Carter noted a general hesitancy among college football athletic departments to enforce buyout payments against 18-year-olds. Because the Umanmielen and Harper deals were terminated shortly after signing, Ole Miss believes pursuing collection is appropriate. “Those are the kinds that, having signed a brand-new rev-share contract basically a week or two before wanting to leave, put you in a bind, especially there in the portal cycle,” Carter said. “Those two we’re going to continue to figure out how to collect. We feel like, based on the contract, we deserve to collect.”
It is customary for the transferring school to cover the buyout fee. Carter indicated Ole Miss has covered some buyout fees for incoming players in the past. A field sponsorship is planned at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium this season to support the program.