The LSU Tigers, under new head coach Lane Kiffin, are among the most active teams in the college football transfer portal.
The Tigers have lost 37 players to the transfer portal since the regular season ended and have added 32 players so far. This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone, as Kiffin had four consecutive top-four transfer portal classes during his time with the Ole Miss Rebels. He has LSU ranked No. 1 in the transfer portal for this cycle.
However, Kiffin is not finished with the portal. According to On3's Pete Nakos, the Tigers are no longer in contention for star pass rusher Damon Wilson. However, Nakos reports that they are the frontrunners for the top player available in the portal: Princewill Umanmielen of the Ole Miss Rebels.
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Umanmielen played one season at Oxford under Kiffin, finishing with 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and nine sacks. He led the Rebels in both tackles for loss and sacks. He also led them to their first College Football Playoff appearance, where they narrowly lost in the semifinals to the Miami Hurricanes, 31-27, in the final seconds of the game.
Landing Umanmielen would immediately reshape LSU’s defensive outlook heading into the 2026 season. With the Tigers losing multiple edge defenders and pass rushers during the offseason, adding a proven SEC disruptor gives the defensive coordinator continuity and flexibility in both base and sub-packages. Umanmielen’s ability to win one-on-one off the edge would address one of LSU’s most pressing needs.
From a broader perspective, this recruitment underscores how Kiffin is building LSU’s roster differently than his predecessors. Instead of relying solely on developmental depth, LSU is prioritizing plug-and-play production through the portal, particularly along the defensive front.
LSU is expected to push for a resolution soon as the transfer portal window nears its close. If the Tigers land Umanmielen, attention will quickly shift to how he fits into spring practices in Baton Rouge as LSU looks to return to the CFP for the first time since 2019.