Ole Miss Sues Two Former Players for Revenue-Sharing Contract Breach

Ole Miss filed separate lawsuits in Lafayette County, Mississippi Circuit Court on Tuesday against former football players Princewill Umanmielen and Devin Harper for breach of revenue-sharing contracts, according to Front Office Sports. Both players signed the revenue-sharing agreements with Ole Miss in January, then transferred to LSU later that month following head coach Lane Kiffin, who departed in November.

The contracts stipulated termination fees if players voluntarily ended the deals within 90 days of signing. Devin Harper owed $400,000 in termination fees, while Princewill Umanmielen owed $550,000, according to Front Office Sports. To date, neither player has paid Ole Miss the fees.

Both lawsuits ask the court to compel the players to pay the termination fees, along with other damages and attorneys' fees. The suits represent an escalation in how universities are enforcing financial obligations against transferring players in the name-image-likeness era.

Precedent suggests such disputes may settle rather than proceed to trial. Duke sued Miami quarterback Darian Mensah over a similar revenue-sharing contract breach and the case was resolved through settlement, per Front Office Sports. Cincinnati's lawsuit against Brendan Sorsby over a comparable breach is ongoing. Washington quarterback Demond Williams walked back his transfer talk after the threat of a lawsuit alone, according to the reporting.

LSU athletics declined to comment on the lawsuits. Ole Miss did not immediately respond to requests for comment.