Ole Miss LB Denzel Nkemdiche on UGA: ‘This game is extremely personal’
Ole Miss redshirt freshman linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche of Grayson leads the Rebels in tackles, tackles for loss, forced fumbles and interceptions. (Photo by 247Sports.com)
By MICHAEL CARVELL
AJC Recruiting Reporter
Ole Miss linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche began the season known as the brother of the nation’s No. 1-ranked high school senior, Robert. But he’s quickly making a name for himself in the SEC, becoming a vocal leader and one of the league’s better young players.
Nkemdiche, a Grayson High graduate, feels like he has something to prove when Ole Miss (5-3) goes for the upset against No. 6 Georgia (7-1) at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
“The excitement is unreal. This is like a homecoming for me, and I just can’t explain how excited I am to play between the hedges,” Nkemdiche said. “I’m going to have so many friends and family there. This game is extremely personal.”
At 5 feet 11, 203 pounds, he’s the leading tackler for Ole Miss and will bring a little extra motivation this week because he feels like he could’ve been recruited differently by Georgia when he was at Grayson, which is located 40 miles from Athens. Nkemdiche was a late qualifier as a senior, committing to Ole Miss after an official visit in May, and stayed with the Rebels after last-minute overtures from Georgia.
“Georgia came in with that late (scholarship) offer, but I felt like they had their reasons for doing that,” Nkemdiche said. “I felt like they didn’t want me all the way because of me. I felt like some of it had to do with my brother, Rob.”
Robert is a senior at Grayson and is committed to Clemson, although his mother wants him to sign with Ole Miss so the brothers can play together.
“Every mother would want that,” Beverly Nkemdiche said. “I don’t want a case where they have games in two different states, and I will be running around like a rooster, or not go to one. Every parent would really want that. It’s my wish for it to happen, but I’m not going to put pressure on anybody.”
Denzel, who was unranked by Rivals as a senior, was recruited by former Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt to play safety. He redshirted last season and found himself in a new position after the Rebels changed head coaches.
“He was playing one of the safety positions when we got here,” Ole Miss first-year coach Hugh Freeze said. “Well, you look at us and who we are: We’re small, so you better get your best speed on the field in this league. That’s the only way we felt like we could compete. Seeing how fast that Denzel ran around in practice, we felt like we could do something with him at that linebacker spot. It enabled us to get faster guys on the field.”
Nkemdiche was receptive to switching positions because he desperately wanted to get on the field. By halftime of the Ole Miss season opener against Central Arkansas, Freeze was convinced he had a special talent at linebacker, along with something else: Nkemdiche had turned into a vocal leader.
“We’re always challenging guys to lead, and Denzel kind of started at halftime of our first game,” Freeze recalled. “And it’s one thing to be vocal and not back it up on the field. But no one can question how hard he plays, and how much an effort he puts into the practices and games. … And when Denzel speaks up, people tend to listen.”
The rest of the SEC is paying close attention to Nkemdiche now, too. He was selected co-SEC Defensive Player of the Week after posting 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and two caused fumbles in a loss to No. 1-ranked Alabama.
“We did not offer his brother (Denzel), but we thought he was a good football player,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said this week. “And I’m not going to get into any current recruits right now. But (Denzel is) certainly playing extremely well.”
Nkemdiche’s high school coach is not surprised about his transformation.
“Absolutely, I saw this coming,” Grayson coach Mickey Conn said. “Denzel is definitely pound-for-pound the hardest hitter that’s ever come through Grayson High School.“Denzel will strike you and he’s got a ton of speed.”
Conn defended Georgia and other schools that didn’t vigorously pursue Denzel from the outset.
“Had he not had those academic issues, there’s no telling who else might’ve thrown an offer out there for him,” Conn said. “. . . They couldn’t take a chance on him early because it really looked like he was going to end up at a junior college or prep school. He just got to working on his test scores, took some extra classes and got his GPA up. He just did what it took.
“That’s just the way that Denzel is. He just finds a way to rise to the occasion, which is exactly what’s doing at Ole Miss.”
Ironically, it was Richt whom Nkemdiche credits with giving him help as a senior when it looked like he might not qualify. Georgia’s coach put in a good word with Mississippi Gulf Coast Junior College, where Nkemdiche signed to play football in February 2011. That left him the option of signing with an FBS school if he qualified later in the year, which is what happened.
Both Ole Miss and Georgia were among the first schools notified in May 2011 that Nkemdiche was on the verge of meeting entrance requirements. Ole Miss never discussed his brother with him.
“Ole Miss really wanted me for me, which I really appreciated,” Nkemdiche said. “Georgia offered me when I got back from my official with Ole Miss. By that time, I had already made up my mind up. Once I made that type of decision, I didn’t want to go back on it. It just felt right in Oxford.”
Georgia may not have missed out only on an All-SEC candidate but also on a prime opportunity to recruit Nkemdiche’s highly regarded brother. Denzel repeated this week what he has said all along about the brothers playing together in college.
“I’ve said from Day 1 that Rob is going to be with me, and that’s still how I feel,” Denzel said. “I just have that feeling. He’s my baby brother, you know. I just know how he is, I know how close we are and I just have that feeling.”
Said Robert, “I see where my mother is coming from. She wants to see both of us on the same team, and seeing us do great things together. We’ll see how it all plays out. We’ll see how it goes.”
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105 comments Add your comment
CasualObserver
November 1st, 2012
2:03 pm
FL./GA. Stillman Dawg: From the outside looking in, it appears that UGA must not be so “slow”, since pretty much every poll (including the unbiased computers) have them in the top 10 in the nation. As an alum of a school decidedly NOT in the top 10, I would take that “slowness” any day. Speaking of slow, based on your vocabulary, spelling, and grammar, I think perhaps that adjective might apply to you, intellectually speaking.
As for anyone “sleeping” on recruiting this kid, some just blossom at different times. Look at all the NFL stars over the years who did not come from “power conference” schools. Besides, the kid didn’t have the grades, so nobody any better than Ole Miss was willing to take a chance. Even the great Nick Saban was not wise enough to offer this kid.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2012
2:06 pm
Hasn’t anyone told this kid that they WORST thing you can do when getting ready to play this UGA team is call them out?
El-Toro GATA
November 1st, 2012
2:07 pm
with alll due respect how could those 2 guys be brothers, one is 5′11 and the other is 6′7. 5′11 cannot play LB at Georgia, Rene Curran was an exception! however he could be a perfect safety for us!apperantly our coaches screwed it up
Sportsrealist
November 1st, 2012
2:08 pm
This TRUE FRESHMAN thinks he is the MAN!!!
Profiler
November 1st, 2012
2:08 pm
Why are the “comments closed” on today’s interview with their mother? I would love to read that blog.
Why does she love Alabama, being from Oklahoma? Sounds like she only gets here for a week or two each season, so she really won’t see either one of them play much.
7576DAWG
November 1st, 2012
2:09 pm
This kid has an attitude and a big mouth. I know he is a good player but he would never have played Linebacker at Georgia. He is too small and is perfect for a safety, where he will play Pro ball if he makes it that far.
It was not Georgia’s fault that he could Qualify academically and as soon as that cleared up he was offered and from what I read 6 to 8 months before signing day. He had plenty of time to accept Georgia’s offer but wanted to get an attitude about him not being smart enough to Qualify and some how in his mind blame Georgia.
All I can say if he would rather go to a college nearly 1000 miles away from home instead of UGA which also makes Mississippi look like a high school facility then how can anyone argue with that logic.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2012
2:10 pm
For God’s sake this Ole Miss defense has given up 27 to Central Arkansas, 66 to Texas, and 20 to Auburn. This defense looks about as good as UGA’s did for the first half of the season
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2012
2:12 pm
Final score: UGA – 38
Ole Miss – 17
Zoomie
November 1st, 2012
2:13 pm
From my read Denzel states, “This game is extremely personal” primarily because he’s “. . . going to have so many friends and family there.” He also credits Richt with helping him as a senior. There may be some sour grapes there concerning his recruitment having to do with his brother as much as him. It pretty much goes without saying that any Div I school was doing the same thing, including Ole Miss. (He probably knows that whether he’ll admit it or not.)
If this is the best bulletin board material that can be scrounged up for this game, it’s pretty weak.
UGA’s got the horses to end this game by half time. Whether they’ll be coached-up to get it done is the only question.
RHall55
November 1st, 2012
2:13 pm
Would have been nice to have one on special teams …..the other as a DE/LB on the 3-4….my question did CRG do everything he could to make that happen….doubt it….Grayson 30 min drive out of Athens….from other reports, does not like to drive outside of Athens, but will take a charter flight for out-of-state buffets!!!
7576DAWG
November 1st, 2012
2:18 pm
The true of the matter is Huston Nutt reminded him that he barely Qualified and would have a much harder time staying Academically Qualified at Georgia where he could be guaranteed a four year degree at University of Mississippi. That sounds more like what really motivate him to go to Mississippi.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2012
2:24 pm
This would be huge for our offense to get back on track, considering how AWFUL this Ole Miss defense has been at times this year. Our O has had 2 BAD games out of the last 3 and it is now proven what is this team’s achilles heel: the Offensive Line. The two teams that have given the O the most problems were S. Carolina and Florida. Great defensive lines. I think the OL is improving and 2 years from now it could be a true strength for this team but right now it is the weak link.
7576DAWG
November 1st, 2012
2:26 pm
Unless you have attended college at UGA you do not know how hard it really is. It certainly surprised me in the 70’s and my son in the years 2004 -2008.
kingdaddy
November 1st, 2012
2:35 pm
Our coaches incompetence has us at #6 in the country, LOL…
CasualObserver
November 1st, 2012
2:37 pm
tide roll: So why didn’t Nick Saban sign him, then? Are you saying EVERY linebacker Alabama recruited that year is better than this kid, who seems to be doing pretty well for himself and for Ole Miss? It is easier to stay qualified academically in most of the western division SEC schools than in the eastern division. See where the top three schools in both divisions rank academically. Even if you throw out Vandy, the East still has two schools in the top 20, with nobody from the West. As a matter of fact, the top rated SEC-W school is Texas A&M.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 1st, 2012
2:39 pm
ah turdroll the black racist is back spewing more lies
This kid did not qualify to get into UGA plus, he would not be playing right now for us over the other BLACK linebackers at UGA like Jones, Herrera, Gillard etc.
Why don’t you go to a NAACP meeting or something and give it up with the moronic racist crapola MR TECHMITE hiding behind a bama blog handle???????????????????????
Tide Roll's Tutor
November 1st, 2012
2:41 pm
Here we go again! Greg Pyke is a promising offensive lineman who has impressed coaches early on, and will get a chance to contribute next year.
Remember you are playing the role of a Bama fan. You should at least fake some disappointment at Robert, long considered a Tide lock, backing out on “your school.”
And don’t even imply that Saban is “incompetent” as you did when giving a lame excuse for Cam Newton not being recruited by Bama in 2010, saying Nick got in late on Cam because he thought he was a lock for UGA, which was a ridiculous charge to make.
Rationale
November 1st, 2012
2:46 pm
Ok, let me see if I can understand this. Coach Richt sees a high school kid with a problem, that will not allow him to qualify for UGA. Yet, Coach Richt gives the kid the suggestion he needs, to help the kid resolve his problem, so that he might be able to go to college and play football. The kid takes Coach RIcht’s suggestion, which gets this kid qualified to get into a SEC school. Then the kid gets a chip on his shoulder, against the coach that helped him get in the school, because the coach did not recruit him, because he appeared to be a possible problem child. Which, at the time Coach Richt met him, he was a problem child.
Sounds about right to me. The kid needs to grow up. Also, these other kids who are acting in high school, like this kid did when he was in high school, needs to pay close attention to this, if they want to actually be able to go to the SEC School they want to go to.
Bulldawg
November 1st, 2012
2:46 pm
Geez, why doesn’t the AJC just put in a new section on the sports page and call it Nkemdiche?
JFKDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:49 pm
Piss on Ole Miss.
Tide Roll's Tutor
November 1st, 2012
2:51 pm
My advice to you, Tide Roll, is to take a vacation from posting, or come up with some new material that does not bring forth a host of well-reasoned posts that destroy your credibility.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2012
2:57 pm
For cyring out loud enough of this blabbering about an Ole Miss player’s RECRUITMENT by the school he DIDNT attend. LETS PLAY FOOTBALL.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
November 1st, 2012
2:59 pm
@ El_Toro GATA:
What is your problem with the difference in size of the Nkemdiche brothers?????????????
We have TWIN BROTHERS playing for the Dawgs!!!!!
One is a 6ft – 3in Safety turned LB and the other is a 5ft – 9in Fullback!!!!!!!!!!
Ever heard of the Ogletree twins!!!!!!!!!!!
Both played almost the entire UGA/Fla game last Saturday
DIT
November 1st, 2012
3:03 pm
I know a lot of you will not like this post, but my feeling about his brother Robert is to let him go elsewhere. I mean even the mother appears to be looking for attention. Robert is just trying to stir the pot and get the attention again. Most people would probably agree that he will end up at Ole Miss. and I wish him nothing but the best.
I just feel it would be another chatacter issue if he went to UGA and we just don’t need anymore of those. Robert should never have committed to Clemson knowing that deep down there was a good chance that he was going to Ole Miss. He miss lead Clemson and could have kept other recruits from going there. Again it’s just my opinion.
Coach Richt let Robert go to Ole Miss. don’t waste your time with him.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2012
3:06 pm
honestly @DIT I completely agree with you.
I don’t like recruits who turn their decision into a drama act, whether it be them or their family. See Dick Rogers at Tennessee.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2012
3:08 pm
So tell me then, oh Wise Tide Roll, what constitutes a fan base that ‘Deserves’ a National Title?
DIT
November 1st, 2012
3:10 pm
@Rationale – Yep, that pretty much summed it up. Shame on Richt for helping a kid out who would not have qualified to go to UGA, but instead he spends his time during heavy recruiting times, to help him get into another program.
Man, the nerve of Coach Richt!!!
DIT
November 1st, 2012
3:12 pm
I don’t guys, but posters like tide roll, gtbob and few others out there, to me it’s not even worth my time to enact in any kind of civil conversation with them because it will not happen.
Don’t feed the trolls!
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2012
3:14 pm
@DIT I know I know, its so hard though, they’re just SO cute, it’s fun watching them get all mad and angry lol
DIT
November 1st, 2012
3:15 pm
Ha! I get it.
clint
November 1st, 2012
3:17 pm
Some of you guys comments are borderline hysterical. Do you really believe that the Sophomores that are offered scholarships have qualified academically. Heck most of them haven’t even taken SAT or ACT at that point. There isn’t a college out there that hasn’t had a kid actually sign a LOI in February only to find out in May that they didn’t qualify. Happens all the time.
JB
November 1st, 2012
3:24 pm
He was “Ole Miss ” type talent. He ended up at the right place.
clint
November 1st, 2012
3:27 pm
Rationale,
No you don’t understand it. The kid never went to junior college but qualified in May before enrolling. Yes he did apply to the junior college which Richt suggested but never attended as he worked hard and did what was necessary to qualify.
Thank God for Reggie Ball
November 1st, 2012
3:29 pm
TGRB out!
FIRE MARK RICHT
November 1st, 2012
3:34 pm
I thought the reason UGA dind’t offer was because this idiot was too stupid to make the grades to get in.
FIRE MARK RICHT
November 1st, 2012
3:34 pm
didn’t*
Layinlow
November 1st, 2012
3:39 pm
Turd roll, michael beasley was a basketball player you duma$$.
Really?
November 1st, 2012
3:39 pm
The pretender at 12:20 still is unable to come up with an original name? I understand why he would want to ride the coattails of my brilliance but take a few moments and create your own name.
That said the faker was on the right path with his comments about denzel. Coach Richt helps the kid out and so now he has a chip on his shoulder and something to prove?!!! TYPICAL!!!!
nate from detroit
November 1st, 2012
3:40 pm
Is anyone else as tired of the drama that is the Nkemdiche brothers as I am? He did not do his due diligence in the classroom to qualify on time, CMR helps get him an inroad at a JC and now he talks like he is “wizzed off” at UGA. TNT could come up with a new drama series about these two and their recruitment and it would be better than the new Dallas series they aired.
CL
November 1st, 2012
3:47 pm
Ready for “Tree” to knock the snot out of LIL big brother on I-formation plays.
Really?
November 1st, 2012
3:48 pm
turd roll is constantly running his racist suck on the ajc about his man crush on saban and the tide. The pathetic thing is the majority of tide fans would sooner shoot him than allow him into their trailer and yet he blindly continues to worship at their feet.
Under The Bleachers
November 1st, 2012
3:50 pm
Come On!
This kid can flat out play! If you have not seen Ole Miss this season then you are in for a treat. This Ole Miss team is going to give UGA fits, but UGA should win late.
flo-ri-duh
November 1st, 2012
3:56 pm
Typical – blame UGA for your failure to qualify academically. If it’s personal you should be mad at yourself. Pray tell – why should UGA offer you a scholarship before you qualified? And just which of UGA’s current LB’s would you have beat out for a job? Glad you are playing well for Ole Miss but don’t blame UGA for not offering before you qualified. Now we know why Robert snubbed UGA……. they did not offer his brother a scholarship early enough – in fact they NEVER offered due to questions about eligibility. And Robert’s mother said she knew nothing about UGA, never visited and never considered. She is not from Georgia – just moved there for work and is now in Nigeria instead of being home with her children who need her.
DJ Dawg
November 1st, 2012
4:03 pm
If we come out focused then no way does Ole Miss stand a chance,but if we come out flat and with no intensity and let them hang around then it could get interesting!
Under The Bleachers
November 1st, 2012
4:03 pm
This is not a Houston Nutt coached Ole Miss team. These kids have bought into what Coach Freeze is selling and look at their games this season, they have been in each game with the exception of Alabama into late in the 3rd quarter and 4th quarter. If they ever get a lead they just gain confidence and Freeze’s offense is not going to allow defenses to substitute causing matchup issues for most teams.
flo-ri-duh
November 1st, 2012
4:04 pm
Expect Robert to end up at Ole Miss on signing day. That’s fine. UGA should not spend one more minute wasting time on Robert ’cause his mama feels slighted by UGA for not offering big brother a scholarship before he qualified academically. Robert will be at UGA this weekend on a unofficial visit – to see his brother play for Ole Miss. Is he going to UGA – NO. Mama is not going to consider UGA ’cause big bro didn’t get an offer. Also big bro was not considered to be a 3 star talent at safety but obviously he can play. Can’t please everybody all the time. Especially if you can’t get them on campus ’cause they live in Nigeria. Move on.
flo-ri-duh
November 1st, 2012
4:08 pm
Huh? They got blown out by Texas early in the season but they are much improved. I don’t take Ole Miss lightly. They were impressive against Bummer for 3 quarters. Nkemdiche is undersized but super fast and hit hard at LB. Biggest concern is the Ole Miss offense which is well diversified – passing and running. UGA needs to score early and score first or this will be a war well in to the 4th quarter.
flo-ri-duh
November 1st, 2012
4:12 pm
Denzel we fixin’ to get personal with you to saturday. …… don’t appreciate you blaming UGA for not offering a scholarship when you were a late qualifier. Go Dawgs!
ZinoDawg
November 1st, 2012
4:19 pm
Where was this “hard hitter” when Texas put us 66 points on the Ole Missy D?
G-Dawg
November 1st, 2012
4:23 pm
Amen Flo!!