Quarterback Wooed Defender to Ole Miss

The transfer portal can be a strange place, especially when quarterbacks start recruiting defensive linemen. For **Princely Umanmielen**, that’s exactly what happened, leading him to a surprising destination.

Unexpected Recruitment

During his time at Florida, **Umanmielen** primarily knew opposing quarterbacks by the impact he made on them. On his own team, relationships with quarterbacks were cordial but distant, remaining largely separate.

Dart’s Persuasion

After entering the transfer portal, **Umanmielen** was taken aback by the enthusiastic recruiting efforts of **Jaxson Dart**, a quarterback he barely knew, beyond their SEC encounters.

Indeed, **Dart’s** relentless pursuit was a major factor in **Umanmielen’s** decision to join Ole Miss for the 2024 season. According to NCAA data, quarterbacks are increasingly involved in recruiting efforts, with 65% of surveyed players saying that a quarterback’s presence influenced their decision (NCAA.org, 2024).