Lane Kiffin's decision to leave Ole Miss for LSU sent shockwaves through the college football universe. Kiffin left the Rebels in the midst of a national title hunt, choosing to become LSU's next head coach on a 7-year, $91 million deal.
Needless to say, Ole Miss were not very pleased with that choice. The Rebel fanbase quickly sided with Pete Golding and the staff members who chose to stay in Oxford for the College Football Playoff and beyond.
LSU's transfer portal class just reached a new level by adding Ole Miss EDGE Princewill Umanmielen
Kiffin leaving Ole Miss was already a tough pill to swallow for Rebel fans, but Kiffin continues to pour salt in the wounds with his transfer portal additions at LSU. Kiffin has now signed 4 former Rebels to his transfer portal class at LSU: LB TJ Dottery, OL Devin Harper, WR Winston Watkins, and EDGE Princewill Umanmielen.
Former Rebels continue to follow Lane Kiffin to LSU
The first Ole Miss player to officially commit to LSU via the portal was WR Winston Watkins. Watkins was recruited and coached by current LSU wide receivers coach George McDonald, who also followed Kiffin from Oxford to Baton Rouge. Watkins put together a strong true freshman season in 2025, collecting 26 catches for 373 yards and a touchdown. Kiffin has spoken very highly of Watkins this season, and with 3 years of eligibility remaining, Ole Miss fans weren't thrilled to lose him to the purple and gold.
A few days after Watkins signed with LSU, Kiffin brought in some offensive line depth with the addition of Ole Miss OL Devin Harper. Hailing from Shreveport, Harper originally committed to LSU out of high school but then flipped to Ole Miss. He redshirted this past season, and has 4 years of eligibility remaining.
But Kiffin's two biggest steals from Ole Miss come in the form of LB TJ Dottery and EDGE Princewill Umanmielen. This past season, Dottery led the SEC in tackles with 98 (48 solo). He is one of the best tacklers in the country, and paired with Whit Weeks, he gives LSU's linebacker group two of the best in the business. Umanmielen racked up a team-leading 9.0 sacks and 45 tackles with the Rebels in 2025. He also collected 15 quarterback hurries.
Kiffin bringing talent with him from Ole Miss to LSU was to be expected, but nabbing Dottery and Umanmielen are two brutal blows to the Rebels. Their combined production is nearly impossible to replace.
While Tiger fans are smiling, Rebel fans continue to despise Kiffin more and more.