Cowboys 2025 draft scouting report: DE Princely Umanmielen

Here is our scouting report on Princely Umanmielen from Ole Miss

We continue our 2025 NFL Draft preview of draft prospects that could interest the Dallas Cowboys. Today we are looking at edge defender Princely Umanmielen from Ole Miss.

Princely Umanmielen

DE/OLB
Ole Miss Rebels
Senior
4-star recruit
6’4”
244 lbs

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

History

Princely Umanmielen was born on April 18, 2002, in Manor, Texas, and attended Manor High School, where he excelled as a four-star recruit. During his senior year of high school in 2019, he recorded 90 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, and 10 sacks, helping his team reach the Texas UIL Class 5A, Division 1 state championship quarterfinals. Ranked ninth among strong-side defensive ends nationally, he committed to Florida over offers from Auburn, Baylor, and Texas.

As a true freshman at Florida, Umanmielen saw limited action but began to display his potential. He appeared in a handful of games, finishing the season with four tackles, two for a loss, and two sacks. His early contributions hinted at his athleticism and ability to disrupt opposing offenses, setting the stage for increased responsibility in subsequent years.

In his second year with the Gators, Umanmielen’s role expanded as he played in more games and showed improvement. He recorded 17 tackles, including two for a loss, along with two sacks and a forced fumble. This season marked his development as a rotational player, gaining valuable experience in the SEC while refining his skills against top competition.

Umanmielen’s junior year was a breakout campaign, as he became a key contributor on Florida’s defensive line. He tallied 39 tackles, with ten for a loss, five sacks, and two forced fumbles, including a notable strip sack against Texas A&M’s Haynes King. His performance demonstrated his growing consistency and ability to impact games, earning him recognition as a rising star in the SEC.

In his final season with Florida in 2023, Umanmielen solidified his reputation as one of the conference’s top edge rushers. Starting all 12 games, he posted another career-high 39 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and a team-leading 17 quarterback hurries, earning second-team All-SEC honors. His decision to transfer to Ole Miss after this season was driven by a desire for further development, setting the stage for his next greatest season.

Transferring to Ole Miss, Umanmielen had a transformative year under coach Lane Kiffin and defensive coordinator Pete Golding. Playing in 12 games with six starts, he recorded 37 tackles (19 solo), 14 tackles for loss, and a team-high 11 sacks, tied for second-most in Ole Miss single-season history. His efforts helped the Rebels lead the nation in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120), earning him first-team All-SEC and second-team All-America honors.

2024 Statistics

474 Defensive Snaps
37 Total Tackles
14 Tackles For Loss
4 Missed Tackles
27 Defensive Stops
55 Total Pressures
11 Sacks
1 Forced Fumble
1 Fumble Recovery TD
0 Penalties

NFL Combine/Pro Day

10-Yard Split- 1.62s (71%)
40-Yard Dash- 4.72s (75%)
Vert- 38” (93%)
Broad- 126” (95%)
Shuttle- 4.46s (44%)
3C- 7.33 (36%)

Awards

First-team All-SEC (2024)
Second-team All-SEC (2023)

Scorecard

Overall- 83.8
Speed- 79
Acceleration- 77
Agility- 80
Strength- 84
Tackling- 71
Pass Rush- 92
Run Defense- 78
Coverage- 60
Discipline- 96

THE GOOD

• Umanmielen’s quick get-off allows him to threaten offensive tackles immediately off the snap, creating instant angle disadvantages.
• His acceleration off the edge is elite, often catching linemen off-balance.
• He has an ideal build for an NFL edge rusher.
• His length aids in disengaging from blocks and extending his tackling radius.
• Displays rare hip and ankle flexibility to dip his shoulder and turn tight corners while maintaining speed, making him a lethal speed rusher from wide alignments.
• Has a fantastic speed rush and inside spin. His inside spin move is particularly effective and technically refined, often set up with hesitation or fakes.
• Shows strong recognition skills, squaring up blocks with his length and anticipating run directions.
• His pursuit speed and effort make him a factor chasing plays from the backside.
• Consistently plays with urgency, delivering second and third efforts in both pass rush and run defense.

THE BAD

• Lacks elite upper-body strength and punch power to consistently convert speed to power or collapse the pocket with bull rushes.
• While sufficient as an edge-setter, he struggles to hold ground against double teams or larger linemen due to moderate play strength and a high pad level at times.
• Can get washed down on outside runs.
• Relies heavily on his speed rush and spin move, with fewer effective inside counters or secondary moves when his initial plan fails.
• Needs to diversify his arsenal to beat NFL linemen consistently.
• His long-striding athleticism limits twitchiness in tight spaces, impacting his ability to redirect quickly or dominate in stunts requiring sudden changes of direction.
• Occasionally plays too upright, reducing his leverage and bend when turning the corner or slanting inside, which can stall his rush against technically sound tackles.

THE FIT

Princely Umanmielen is a long, explosive, and flexible edge rusher whose 2024 season at Ole Miss showcased his ability to dominate as a pass-rushing specialist. His elite first step, bend, and technical growth make him a tantalizing prospect for NFL teams seeking speed off the edge. He’s best suited for an aggressive 4-3 defense as a wide-9 defensive end or on 3-4 defenses as a stand-up outside linebacker. His length, speed, and bend make him a natural fit for one-gap schemes that prioritize edge disruption over stout anchoring.

He does have some issues to watch for. His lack of a pronounced power game and inconsistent run defense anchor suggest he’ll need development to become a complete player. Early in his career, he’s likely to thrive as a situational pass rusher in obvious passing downs, with the tools to grow into a full-time starter in the right situation. His consistent statistical improvement signal a prospect on the rise, making him one of the most intriguing EDGE talents in the 2025 class, but he comes with a risk while he looks to develop.

Umanmielen could be a strong fit for the Dallas Cowboys as a developmental edge rusher within their defensive scheme. His physical attributes and skill set align well with the team’s needs and defensive philosophy, though there are areas where he’d need to improve to maximize his impact.

The Cowboys could use depth and youth at the defensive end position behind Micah Parsons. DeMarcus Lawrence has moved on to Seattle. Sam Williams is coming off an ACL injury and it’s unknown how he will perform. Marshawn Kneeland is still developing and is just potential right now. The Cowboys added veteran Dante Fowler Jr. to bring experience and production. Umanmielen’s explosive upside makes him an appealing developmental piece who could initially be a back up and bolster the team’s pass-rush depth, an area of focus as they look to maintain pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

He needs significant development to become a valuable asset to the Cowboys’ defense. But his speed, length, and motor match the team’s scheme and needs, making him a candidate to contribute immediately in pass-rush situations while growing behind established players. If he can address his weaknesses, particularly by adding power and refining his run defense, he has the potential to evolve into a valuable starter. For now, he projects as a worthwhile investment for a team aiming to enhance its defensive line with a young, explosive talent.

PRO COMPARISON:

Marcus Davenport, Detroit Lions

BTB GRADE:

41st

CONSENSUS RANKING:

50th
(Consensus ranking based on the average ranking from 90 major scoring services, including BTB)