A transfer from Florida, Princely Umanmielen has used 2024 as a springboard for his NFL draft stock this fall. His standout performance against Oklahoma in Week 9—he had seven pressures and two sacks—showcased his ability to disrupt the passing game consistently. Umanmielen’s status as a day-two (or higher) pick is starting to become a reality.
Transferring into a new program with new faces and inherent expectations is never easy, yet Umanmielen has seamlessly adapted to his ballclub, providing an immediate jolt to the Rebels’ defensive front while earning a reputation as one of the more disruptive pass rushers in college football.
Known for his raw athleticism and bend around the corner at 255 pounds, Umanmielen has shown that he can capitalize with both speed and power to win isolated matchups. With ideal body mass for an NFL edge rusher, his range of movement and athletic profile, combined with a relentless motor, has been instrumental in his ascent as a premier sack artist.
His two sacks in Week 9 demonstrated his ability to not only apply pressure but the ability to finish plays with a quarterback ending up in the dirt. His versatility also shines through in his ability to line up across the defensive front, adapting to various assignments and setting the edge on early downs.
Expanding on his game against Oklahoma, along with his splash plays, he demonstrated advanced hand-fighting techniques to disengage from blocks and exploit gaps in protection schemes. He tempos his rushes with varying speeds, can win to either shoulder, and can win both technically and strictly as a higher-level athlete than the man in front of him. His seven pressures weren’t only the result of sheer brute force, they were well-timed, intentional movements to capitalize on weaknesses and tendencies.
As the draft nears, Umanmielen’s continued production will remain paramount should he idealize hearing his name being called as early as night one. His stock has surged through nine weeks so far this fall, and continuing this level of production (27 pressures and six sacks so far) could showcase a prospect whose stock truly has no ceiling.
