By KACE KIESCHNICK, Tiger Rag Staff Reporter
The most talked about game of the LSU offseason has almost arrived. No. 7 LSU (2-0) takes on No. 8 Ole Miss (2-0) on Saturday, but while the soap opera storylines, bitter rivalry and surreal atmosphere expected in Oxford, Mississippi are enough to get fans across the country excited, they have not changed anything for the Tigers.
Even LSU defensive end Princewill Umanmielen, who followed head coach Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss to LSU in the transfer portal this offseason, is not treating the game against his former school any differently.
“It’s another game, something to look forward to,” Umanmielen said after practice on Tuesday. “It’s a blessing to be able to play the game I love. Just another week, I look forward to it for sure.”
Just hours after calling the return to Oxford “just another game,” Umanmielen was served papers in the LSU football facility parking lot on Tuesday regarding the University of Mississippi’s lawsuit against him and LSU offensive guard Devin Harper. Ole Miss is seeking nearly $1 million combined from the two players for allegedly violating their revenue-sharing contracts with the school by transferring to LSU shortly after signing them in January.
It remains to be seen whether the lawsuit gives Umanmielen any extra motivation when he enters Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday, if he needs it at all. The senior leads the nation with five sacks through his first two games as a Tiger. He has also racked up 11 tackles and 6 ½ tackles for loss in just 67 total snaps this season.
But the success and frequent trips to the backfield are nothing new to Umanmielen. He was an All-Southeastern Conference third-team selection last year at Ole Miss after finishing in the top 10 of the conference in sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (13). He helped the Rebels to a 13-2 record and a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinal, but he said his relationships with his former teammates will not be a factor on Saturday night.
“It’s another week. They’re on the opposing side, so ain’t no friends on the field,” he said.
The same goes for the raucous home crowd that used to cheer him on.
“It ain’t about them, it’s about us,” Umanmielen said. We’re just going to play our ball, do our 1/11 and things should go our way for sure.”
Umanmielen did say that his experience at Ole Miss will help him in one aspect – scouting. He said that he and fellow Rebels transfer linebacker TJ Dottery have been able to use their practice reps with and against their former teammates to prepare for their reunion.
“We got a little one-two knowing that we’ve been over there, so we know a couple of the guys,” Umanmielen said. “We’re giving our tips and giving out what could be helpful for the offense and defense for sure.”
That will come in handy when the Tiger’s No. 1 defense (142 yards allowed per game) and No. 2 rushing defense (18.5 yards allowed per game) go up against Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and running back Kewan Lacy.
“They got good players over there for sure that are mobile, know how to move around and facilitate around the defense,” Umanmielen said. “We really just got to keep them in the pocket, things like that, and be grindy and gritty – go hard, play each play, something goes wrong, next play mentality.”
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