Robert Nkemdiche: Clemson lands nation’s No. 1 recruit … “It’s family man!”
Robert Nkemdiche, the nation’s No. 1 overall college football prospect, has committed to Clemson.
The 6-foot-5, 275-pound defensive end from Grayson High School made the unexpected announcement during a visit to Clemson on Thursday.
“It’s family man!” Nkemdiche said in a text message to the AJC, confirming his commitment to Clemson.
Robert Nkemdiche (No. 1 jersey) in Clemson gear with his Grayson teammates, sent out by Wayne Gallman on Twitter
There’s a lot of connections between Nkemdiche and Clemson that would make it feel like a football family: Two of his Grayson teammates, DB David Kamara (Nkemdiche’s best friend since middle school) and RB Wayne Gallman, have already committed to Clemson. There’s an extra level of trust with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney because he roomed together and played football at Alabama with Grayson coach Mickey Conn, who has helped Nkemdiche navigate through the recruiting process. Clemson is located only 100 miles away from Grayson High School, keeping Nkemdiche within close proximity to his support network.
It was an amazing turn of events for Clemson, which traditionally recruits well in the state of Georgia. Clemson failed to sign any Georgia prospects last February and now has landed the nation’s No. 1 prospect from Georgia, along with two of his teammates.
Nkemdiche and Kamara went to Clemson on Wednesday for a three-day visit, and Kamara set things in motion by committing to the Tigers soon after arriving on campus. The next day, Nkemdiche followed with his pledge to the Tigers. The timing was surprising because Nkemdiche had been hinting that he would likely wait on making his college decision until after his senior season — so he could take some official visits.
Clemson has been listed among Nkemdiche’s favorite schools, along with Alabama and Ole Miss. Robert, at one time or another, has also expressed heavy interest in UGA, LSU, Mississippi State and Florida, among others.
CHECK BACK ANY MINUTE FOR ANOTHER COMMIT …
- Will Robert Nkemdiche follow two teammates to Clemson??
- 4-star linebacker commits to Vanderbilt, switches to Tech, then decides to “re-open” his recruiting
- HEARTBREAKER: UGA’s top recruit de-commits from the Bulldogs
- Georgia sends ANOTHER QB to the BCS ranks
- Florida OL commits to Tech over Clemson, others
- Top Alabama recruit shoots down … the UGA rumors
- Ex-Georgia Tech commitment waiting for clearance from the NCAA
- Good news! UGA and Georgia make the cut for Georgia DT
- How did Alabama visit go for … UGA’s TOP recruit?
- UGA edges out Georgia Tech in rare head-to-head battle for in-state recruit
- OL who appeared to be on brink of committing to UGA … picks South Carolina
- Steve Spurrier strikes again: Two Georgia commits in two days
- Nick Saban finally lands a Georgia QB for Alabama
- Robert Nkemdiche’s teammate will go west
AND THE RECRUITING NEWS KEEPS COMING
- Son ex-UGA player commits to play QB at LSU
- Notre Dame plucks away one of Georgia’s best prospects
- Should UGA be worried about 5-star RB Derrick Henry visiting … Alabama?
- Georgia Tech’s entire recruiting class gets GREEN LIGHT
- Hmmm … Florida and UGA agree to NOT host recruits for annual showdown
- UGA football signee forced to delay enrollment
- Georgia Tech FLIPS commitment of 4-star LB
YOU’VE GOT MAIL
- Nick Saban shares stamps; Recruit gets 52 letters in ONE DAY from Georgia Tech
- Mark Richt has a little secret
- Robert Nkemdiche: No. 1 prospect officially delays his college decision
- Nick Saban on his Georgia recruiting success: “Well, I still have a home in Georgia”
– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog
- So much is happening so fast. Have you missed anything over the last few days? Catch up with our feed by CLICKING HERE
- BOOKMARK the NEW AJC Recruiting homepage here
Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com
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646 comments Add your comment
wreckmaniac
June 14th, 2012
9:03 pm
What has been evident for a long time is that , other than Bama, the SEC has problems. Most of Georgia’s top talent leaves the state anyway. Is this supposed to be a surprise ?
Richard Alpert
June 14th, 2012
9:03 pm
As a Dawg fan, I’m not so naive to think we actually had a shot at this kid, even by hiring his former coach. But you have GOT to love the fact that somewhere Saban is ticked that he didn’t get the #1 player in the country.
Best of luck Robert, you are a class act and have represented this state well.
Oh and Tech fans, good luck getting ANY player that is actually ranked somewhere.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:03 pm
I would think the Bama fans would be happy for Dabo.
Game Changer
June 14th, 2012
9:04 pm
Gwinnett county players on 2012 UGA roster given schollys out of high school
2 Buford
1 Weslyn
1 GAC christain
no wonder UGA gets no respect
Vinny
June 14th, 2012
9:04 pm
Shame on you for not going to the SEC. And I say that as a non-SEC state citizen.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:04 pm
Might wanna check some of our players committed, Richard.
A person SMART enough to know......
June 14th, 2012
9:05 pm
Clem&sons have a National Championship more resent that UGA…………LOL
wreckmaniac
June 14th, 2012
9:05 pm
Vinny: You’re a laugh.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:06 pm
Shame on you for not going to the SEC. And I say that as a non-SEC state citizen.
WTF.
That Dude says...
June 14th, 2012
9:06 pm
People who bash a kid for what college he picks to play football and go to school at are losing in life.
WDE
June 14th, 2012
9:08 pm
Congrats young man ! You’ll be a superstar in the ACC and still get to kick Gamecock butt!
Joe
June 14th, 2012
9:08 pm
Any time a po-dunk school like Clemson starts pulling the likes of Sammy Watkins and Nkemdiche, it is clear that the NCAA should step in immediately. It is plainly obvious that they are cheating. There is absolutely no other way to explain this. Literally.
SebastianValmont
June 14th, 2012
9:09 pm
Congrats Robert… I’m just glad you didn’t choose BAMA… still Go Dawgs!!!
Richard Alpert
June 14th, 2012
9:09 pm
George, I’m sure you’ve got the next Reggie Ball just waiting in the wings. Now give me your lunch money, nerd…
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:09 pm
People who bash a kid for what college he picks to play football and go to school at are losing in life.
Bingo.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:10 pm
Grow up, Richard. Then check your facts.
Joe
June 14th, 2012
9:11 pm
I wonder if Mickey Conn slept in the bed with Dabo and his mom in the dorm room?
wreckmaniac
June 14th, 2012
9:11 pm
tdawgmoney: You’re right. He will crawl to Master Mark and beg forgiveness in a few days. After all the top 5 or 10 recruits that have announced their plans to go to a non-UGA school come to their senses and commit to UGA andsince the Vegas crowd said that UGA will be undefeated, Saban is scared to death and looking for his next job. He’s already talking to at least 3 schools. He and Patrino. As I’ve always said, the best time for a UGA fan is the two months before the season starts.
UGA Fan Foreva
June 14th, 2012
9:13 pm
@Joe HAHAHAHAHAHA that is so true haha
Tampa Gator
June 14th, 2012
9:13 pm
That loud noise you just heard was Satan, I mean Saban, yelling…..”What the hell!2@@@”……from his big, impressive, Tide roll office…..you know, the one where the office door automatically open and shuts………”What the #@##&#!!!!!” There you go again.
Well….not everyone thinks you walk on water…..do they???
Richard Alpert
June 14th, 2012
9:13 pm
George, just go away and quit pretending like your team will ever matter.
Todd Grantham
June 14th, 2012
9:14 pm
I wish you luck Robert! It was great to get to know you and your family. If you have secondd thoughts you have my number! Go Dawgs!
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:14 pm
Time to grow up, Richard.
GTBob
June 14th, 2012
9:15 pm
George, I’m sure you’ve got the next Reggie Ball just waiting in the wings. Now give me your lunch money, nerd…
This is my favorite UGA post of the day. You don’t much trash talking like this outside of 1980’s sitcoms.
wreckmaniac
June 14th, 2012
9:15 pm
Gee, CMR will down to only 160-180 schollys. There’s a mass exodus from Athens.
Richard Alpert
June 14th, 2012
9:16 pm
George, name ONE Tech recruit right now without looking it up. GO!
Tampa Gator
June 14th, 2012
9:17 pm
Also…..the article mentions he was also interested in Florida……well…..when was that? The kid always wanted to play close to home.
wreckmaniac
June 14th, 2012
9:17 pm
Kemdiche isn’t fat enough to play defense at UGA. He feels like a shrimp around Donuts Jenkins.
Dawg Haus
June 14th, 2012
9:18 pm
Wait, wait, wait, I thought this kid was Bama’s to lose. What’s going on?
Richard Alpert
June 14th, 2012
9:19 pm
Here George, I’ll help you out.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/teamrank/2013/all/all
There’s Tech at #35 just three spots above Southern Methodist…
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:19 pm
Shamire Devine. But I thought that was your homework assignment, Richard.
Orange12
June 14th, 2012
9:20 pm
Uga is #3 nationwide for recruits signed for 2013, according to rivals.com
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:21 pm
And would you look at that! We have ranked players. Whodda thunk it?
cdpridg
June 14th, 2012
9:21 pm
Clemson…sorta like Auburn with a lake…
JM
June 14th, 2012
9:21 pm
“Close proximity” is redundant.
Tdawg
June 14th, 2012
9:21 pm
Just when I thought that this kid couldn’t get any dumber. Wonder what kind of new car he will be getting. On the brighter side though. It must sting like he!! for you tide fans that think you know everything, to find out in fact. you don’t know squat.
ryan
June 14th, 2012
9:21 pm
This kind of reminds me of Jordan Jenkins last year Bama fans kept saying he was lock then in a stunner picks UGA we all thought Robert was a Bama lock but shocked everyone chose Clemson Saban does not always gets what he wants have to love it .
cdpridg
June 14th, 2012
9:22 pm
Where are all the Bammer boys at!!??
Richard Alpert
June 14th, 2012
9:22 pm
Good choice. He looks like a Rhodes Scholar..
http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/player-Shamire-DeVine-115621;_ylt=Ar01uYzM_7vpRbJSE2WyPTpDPZB4
Shamire DeVine sounds like a street walker about to get into Hugh Grant’s car.
Tampa Gator
June 14th, 2012
9:22 pm
Georgia fans……..Tech….not Georgia….has the most recent national championship trophy. And Tech, not Georgia, in the more recent visitor to a BSC Bowl (Orange). And they put a lot of players into the pros…..by coaching them up from their 3 star ratings (which really means very little). Even this kid has a lot to prove when he hits the Clemson practice field. The WR the Jets drafted from Tech this year is going to an outstanding pro, for example. And I think another Tech WR is doing fairly well up there in Detroit land.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:24 pm
I honestly have no idea idea how to respond to that, Richard, except to feel pity for you.
Fred
June 14th, 2012
9:25 pm
Congratulations to Robert on his choice. To all of you folks chewing on all those sour grapes because he didn’t choose you, grow up! He made his choice and it was his to make, not yours! You would think grown-ups (at least I guess you are) would be glad for him. Oh well, I guess that shows where your priorities are.
FRED
June 14th, 2012
9:26 pm
Good luck kid it’s a losing program.
Richard Alpert
June 14th, 2012
9:27 pm
Thanks George, I’ll bet you’re one helluva engineer.
And TampaGator, Georgia, not Florida, has won in Jacksonville more recently and will continue to do so as long as Muschump is roaming the sidelines with that bugeyed stare.
ryan
June 14th, 2012
9:29 pm
@Tampa i believe BSC bowl win was taking away by the NCAA UGA does have two Sugar Bowl wins under Richt and 3 SEC championships wins which .
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:29 pm
Nope, never was one. Double E, but I took my talents to law school.
Richard Alpert
June 14th, 2012
9:30 pm
And are you REALLY going to compare getting out of the SEC into a BCS bowl to going to the Orange Bowl??? Mississippi State and Kentucky could get there every other year if they were in the ACC.
GTBob
June 14th, 2012
9:31 pm
Uga is #3 nationwide for recruits signed for 2013, according to rivals.com
Yeah, signing like 40 players in one offseason will help with the rankings.
Tdawg
June 14th, 2012
9:32 pm
Dawg Haus they lost him. I hear that they have called out the National Guard in Alabama and put them on high alert. Seems roll tide and some of the other tide fanatics are threatening mass suicide after hearing how all mighty Saban can’t actually get everyone he wants. Even though UGA didn’t get him and most us dawg fans never really expected him to come to Georgia. It is so much more satisfying, knowing that those bunch of idiots just west of us didn’t get him. This bit of news just made my day. Would have been nice to have gotten this kid. It just that this has to be the most big headed kid I have ever seen. His poor ole mama must have had one heck of a time passing that big head.
George Stein
June 14th, 2012
9:32 pm
And are you REALLY going to compare getting out of the SEC into a BCS bowl to going to the Orange Bowl??? Mississippi State and Kentucky could get there every other year if they were in the ACC
Riiiiigggghhhhttttt.