4-star DE Princely Umanmielen discusses Texas and other top schools

FRISCO, Texas — Manor product and Texas Longhorns defensive end target Princely Umanmielen was among the elite prospects in attendance at The Opening Finals this week and provided an update on the status of his recruitment.

“It’s been a good experience,” Umanmielen told Burnt Orange Nation’s Joe Hamilton. “I’ve always wanted to do this since about the ninth grade, so it’s good to finally be out here, getting coached up by people that have done it at the highest level already.”

Head coach Tom Herman and his staff are working hard to keep Umanmielen in the Austin area, with Herman telling him this spring that “he’ll be damned if he let a kid from Austin go to any other school in the nation.”

So far, the efforts are paying off, as the Longhorns are well positioned with Umanmielen in the final months of his recruitment.

“[Texas] is most definitely up there within my top three — they’re really up there,” Umanmielen said.

The proximity to Texas has allowed the 6’4, 249-pounder to visit the Forty Acres numerous times over the last year, but the coaching staff has also invested considerable time in developing a relationship with Umanmielen.

“Coach Giles has been talking to me since I was a freshman, before they offered me. We’ve been building a relationship for a really long time,” Umanmielen said.

“It’s just that every time that I go there, I really know most of the team so they make me feel like I’m already a part of them just because I know them and I can talk to them.”

Oklahoma is another program in pursuit of the consensus four-star prospect and holds two 247Sports Crystal Ball predictions from last year.

“Coach Thibodeaux and Coach Riley, they keep in contact with me,” he said. “You know it’s not as close to Texas and I can’t go there as much, but they just make sure to keep in contact with me. And Coach Grinch’s new defense, I’m eager to see how that plays out.”

Texas A&M holds the other, most recent Crystal Ball prediction.

“Really Coach Price, he’s been on me hard. I like the campus and when I’m there all of the people are nice, it just feels good down there.”

Perhaps the most critical period in Umanmielen’s recruitment will happen this fall when he takes his official visits. So far, Alabama, LSU, Texas, and Texas A&M are scheduled to host Umanmielen, with Oklahoma also a possibility.

Shortly thereafter, Umanmielen will announce his commitment on Oct. 15. Ranked as the No. 253 prospect nationally, the No. 11 strong-side defensive end, and the No. 42 player in Texas, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Umanmielen is a key target for the Longhorns along the defensive line.