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
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 1st, 2012
12:06 pm
Good, let him run his mouth some more
Print this crap and give it to Shawn Williams
Oakdale Dawg
November 1st, 2012
12:12 pm
This better not be a game. I’m expecting a 2007 like late season run for the Dawgs. Only difference is we have our destiny in our hands. Go Dawgs!
AirDawg
November 1st, 2012
12:16 pm
it was Richt whom Nkemdiche credits with giving him help as a senior.
enough said.wish he had better grades when it counted.
Bulldogs for Muschamp Lifetime Contract
November 1st, 2012
12:19 pm
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.
*******************************
Georgia did not miss out on anything since Denzel did not have the grades or scores to get into Georgia
Really?
November 1st, 2012
12:20 pm
So Ole Miss didn’t recruit him because of his brother but UGA did? So that is why Ole Miss is recruiting his brother harder than anyone right now and the only logical reason they are in contention is due to his brother? Man, this kid is easily fooled.
nobody
November 1st, 2012
12:21 pm
5′11″ 203 LB?!?! Yikes.
KBP
November 1st, 2012
12:23 pm
Bulldogs for Muschamp. . . Great post!
KBP
November 1st, 2012
12:31 pm
Robert has dominated mainly because he lines up against kids that are smaller and weaker than he is. No question about his talent but I would love to see him play against some legit 5-star guards and tackles. I want to see how he fights off blockers.
GSP
November 1st, 2012
12:31 pm
http://thegeorgiasportsreport.blogspot.com/2012/11/there-will-be-clarity.html
That's The Bottom Line
November 1st, 2012
12:32 pm
D Nkemdiche should kick himself for not excelling in the classroom. If R Nkemdiche has made up his mind, I hope UGA is not giving him a free pass to the game this Saturday. I would not waste my resources on this kid. Let the Nkemdiche family pay the full ticket price for his baby brother to see him play. I would run Traps, Counter Traps, Sweeps, and the Power I w/a fullback lead at Denzel all day long for shooting off at the mounth
That's The Bottom Line
November 1st, 2012
12:34 pm
KBP, Robert is going to disappear after he signs with Ole Miss. The Alabama, Texas A&M, etc linemen are going to pound him into submission.
J-Dawg
November 1st, 2012
12:36 pm
Coach Conn- Denzel the “pound for pound” toughest hitter to come out of Grayson, come on Man??
I know the Grayson program and a few names come to mine before him; Joe Champaign. Shawn Green and Terry Williams. Those boys could hit!
his bro or Ray D ?
November 1st, 2012
12:48 pm
We have Ray Drew. Come 2013 and 2014, Drew will be a huge factor on D for UGA.
UGA cannot sign em all. GRADES do mean something at UGA and thus fact is why UGA will usually have to be content with 9-3, 10-2 seasons. Denzel pretty much explained it just that way, by his mention of going juco first or preschool.
UGA is not Duke or Stanford but we are very competitive university to attend. THE HATERS really hate this fact.
Go Dogs!
dmr
November 1st, 2012
12:48 pm
Georgia wanted him. However, he was a late qualifier the year Georgia only had room for about 19 players. Georgia did not have the luxury of waiting until the last minute. That is unlike the class of 2013, where Georgia will sign approx. 32 kids and may even then still be under the scholarship limit because of where they are starting this year. (approx. only 70 – 72 kids on scholarship now).
Cunk Rogers
November 1st, 2012
12:49 pm
That’s The Bottom Line, I disagree with you. I am sure Denzel does kick himself for not having kept up with his grades in HS. It cost him dearly when it came time to deciding on schools. That said, he made his decision and Robert will make his. Never count Richt out when it comes to recruiting a kid and don’t count out the fact we are only 40 miles away from home. Even with all that, Robert will probably go to Ole Miss but that does not mean we give up trying to convince him and his Mom otherwise. Richt may make a great impression on Robert, his Mom and family. Its worth a shot.
Salty Dawg
November 1st, 2012
12:50 pm
Look forward to seeing him confront Gurley with a full head of steam….POW!!
joe jenkins
November 1st, 2012
12:51 pm
Come on Dawgs!!! We need to shut denzel up….and who cares about his brother….he can go some where else!!! I would rather have a player with heart like merrit hall…… come on now dawgs..we got to put it altogether and beat ole miss…..i’m sick and tired of us not playing with any consistenancy…..big john jenkins better hurry up and get back in practice….sore ankle or not….we will not dominate them if he dont play……I want to see us score first and dominate!!! I still don’t think we make the mnc game…because of murray’s turnovers…and we have a mediocre FG kicker…plus the loss of bennett…he was a hardnosed and deceptively fast WR that nobody wanted to guard…he was always open….our bets blocking Wr…I defintley think bennett is better than t.king and brown
Layinlow
November 1st, 2012
12:54 pm
Why is the this game so personal for him? Did he not admit that Richt made a phone call on his behalf in case he couldn’t make it into an FBS school? Richt also made an offer once his grade situation became more clear. Shouldn’t he be saying I appreciate what coach Richt did but ultimately I chose ole miss because I felt it was a better place for me. He acts as if the UGA did something terrible. Good for him that he is playing well but at 5′11″ 203 lbs he would have neer been able to play linebacker in a 3-4 system. And who knows his brother may end up being another ray drew.
The Son
November 1st, 2012
12:56 pm
Ah, yes, I remember my Mother wanted to see me and my brother play for the same college. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a brother and my sister’s time in the 40 was too slow. She wound up playing for Tech.
ARdawg
November 1st, 2012
12:57 pm
A bit testy on the verbiage aren’t we Chip?
BjohnDawg
November 1st, 2012
12:58 pm
so you did not have the grades and then you did and then UGA offered.
your did not have the grades at the time they did not offer, but UGA coaches helped you get an offer from a CC so you could go FBS. UGA did nothing wrong.Looks like Richt and Georgia actually helped you instead.
Ginger
November 1st, 2012
1:00 pm
I followed this story 2 years ago when Denzel qualified….Denzel took the visit to Ole Miss and would not consider visiting Georgia. Coach McClendon was in contact with him according to AJC article and Denzel would not visit–the article that was in AJC end of May 2010 or Beginning of June 2010
It was a quote from Denzel that said “Ole Miss, that’s my school” in that article.
It was not because of Denzel ability as athelete but because of his grades that UGA could not offer him early…He should have been working and studying harder earlier…..Wish that he would have had better grades his Senior year at Grayson and that we could have gotten him. In the game against my Colquitt County Packers–it was Denzel who was making tackles all over the field. Was impressed.
But I understand UGA position about not offering until they knew grades would be ok. Had Denzel really wanted to go to UGA–he could have visited when McClendon called him…But he choose not to..He choose to go to Ole Miss…which is ok…Be happy….But don’t get mad at Georgia…but no one offered Denzel until he had the grades…Ole Miss did not offer until the grades where there….and let’s face it—Ole Miss knew of the potential of Robert too….but they wanted Denzel just like UGA wanted Denzel—UGA would have offered if they did not believe that he would be a good football player….Scholarships are just too valuable.
The Distinguisher
November 1st, 2012
1:01 pm
What’s the difference between personal and extremely personal? Personally speaking this game is extraordinarily personal for me. I believe that’s more personal.
Ole Miss LB Denzel Nkemdiche on UGA: ‘This game is extremely personal’ – Georgia – Dawg News
November 1st, 2012
1:06 pm
[...] the original: Ole Miss LB Denzel Nkemdiche on UGA: ‘This game is extremely personal’ ← Back to Home Tags: carvell, dawgs, denzel nkemdiche, linebacker, loss, rebels, [...]
Cunk Rogers
November 1st, 2012
1:06 pm
Look at it this way, if Robert is going to go to another SEC school other that UGA, OLE Miss would be one of 2-3 schools I would want him to go to.
ARdawg
November 1st, 2012
1:07 pm
Normally, last year excluded, schollys are a rare hot item and schools won’t and shouldn’t commit to a kid that likely won’t make the grade. Many super athletes go elsewhere for the same reason. It happens at all schools. Pay attention kids, do the work
robodawg
November 1st, 2012
1:15 pm
Late qualifier, late offer from Georgia, which Denzel didn’t give much consideration to. He could’ve been a Dawg if he wanted it. Sounds like he’s trying to manufacture some disrespect for extra motivation.
Holy Guacamole
November 1st, 2012
1:15 pm
Frankly, I got bored with the whole Nkemdiche saga months ago. Make a decision and go somewhere, anywhere.
Something about this story doesn’t seem right to me. Richt helps the kid out who can’t qualify and now the game is “extremely personal” for him? WTF?
Holy Guacamole
November 1st, 2012
1:21 pm
If Denzel was at UGA, he would still be a safety at his size. Shawn needs a back-up anyway. No way he beats out our current LB crop.
Besides, I like Ginger’s story better than Denzel’s story.
flo-ri-duh
November 1st, 2012
1:28 pm
So it is UGA’s fault when Nkemdiche has a problem academically qualifying and he blames UGA? It’s personal? Your mama should have stayed home and made sure you did your studies. Instead she is AWOL in Nigeria.
hershey
November 1st, 2012
1:29 pm
this is at KBP. Robert plays against guys bigger then him every friday 6′ 5′ 300 lb boys and if you can pull up what he did at Nike camp against the top 3 5star O lineman in the country. They play 6A ball in GA. never a easy game
FL./GA. Stillman Dawg.
November 1st, 2012
1:30 pm
Based upon reading his mother and Denzel statements today, …. I wonder if his mother acknowledge the fact Coach Richt help her son get into college. Since she Only like ALABAMA (cant blame her, they do produce and GA disappoints)….But she says Saban’s a nice man and they chat regularly on FACEBOOK,, WOW,,…. Richt you are so far behind the recruit learning curve…Chances are he may end up there. But every program is on the outside looking in with this kid.. Mom has made her case and son will not dissappoint mom. Lastly, HOW MANY GUYS HAVE UGA RECRUITED THAT WERE ON THE BUBLE OF ENTRANCE CLEARANCE (A TON),, SO PUNDNETS WHY NOT WAIT FOR ANOTHER. O I KNOW,, UGA IS SLOW IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE GAME (ON AND OFF THE FIELD).
gafanintn
November 1st, 2012
1:33 pm
this whole family is full of crap…mother…brothers..father…they are all want a bees. I don’t care if any care 100 stars with there name, UGA does not need this drama around. How can Robert be recruited by Clemson, as big of a recruit as he is, and Dabo never spoken to the mother? I just find that whole story and drama a big bunch of BS.
Michael
November 1st, 2012
1:33 pm
MC…why are the other columns on Nkemdiche “Comments Closed”…I bet I can guess.
hershey
November 1st, 2012
1:34 pm
WOW flo-ri-duh I dont think he blames UGA but all these coaches care about is how they can use these boys on the field they never said how can we help with your grades, plus he was balling like that since 10th grade and GA never came knocking and he played on a team that is always nationally ranked
Who gives a damn
November 1st, 2012
1:34 pm
what so much pub on this kid. there is a 50/50 chance he will be a bust anyway. His mom seems to be a total idiot…… Did she get $150K like Cams dad???
Chris Mike
November 1st, 2012
1:38 pm
Are we really commenting on this!
Mike S.
November 1st, 2012
1:38 pm
I just hope UGA wins, even if its by 1 pt. I could care less. As for Denzel, this is just some artificial hype he’s trying to create. If Richt did put in a good word for him, then why the hate and how should his Ole Miss teammates take that? So he would have rather been in a UGA uniform? Then maybe he should have had the grades to begin with. His grades weren’t good enough to reserve a spot for. Like his coach said, who knows what his recruitment would have been like if he had the grades.
Spike
November 1st, 2012
1:39 pm
Bring. It. On.
hershey
November 1st, 2012
1:40 pm
well spoken FLA./GA. STILLMAN DAWG it’s tons of talent in Ga and they never recruit it all but BAMA and AUBURN etc does
kingdaddy
November 1st, 2012
1:45 pm
Run that mouth now, Sunday it might be wired togeather…
Profiler
November 1st, 2012
1:46 pm
Holy G…..ditto
Rob-Sux
November 1st, 2012
1:51 pm
Im so tired of hearing about this kid…..who gives a crap….
kingdaddy
November 1st, 2012
1:54 pm
Màybe you techies should have recruited him. Our walkons are better than him…
OkieDawg
November 1st, 2012
1:55 pm
Denzel made the right decision to go to the Hotty Toddy Gosh Almighty School. He’s playing and that’s good. But at 5′ 11″ and 203, he wouldn’t be playing linebacker at Georgia…No Way.
Bremen Dawg
November 1st, 2012
1:58 pm
Too short to play safety, is too small to play linebacker in the 3-4, why would UGA take a chance if he might not qualify. Would have been a special teams player at UGA.
Bremen Dawg
November 1st, 2012
2:00 pm
Remember 5′11 if football height, so more like 5′9 1/2, 190lbs.
BjohnDawg
November 1st, 2012
2:00 pm
Frankly I am with the gacamole dude. Tired of this whole family and its drama. Coud care less if UGA is in the mix. I cannot ever remember a mother of a recruit getting an article written about her on this recruiting blog. Hey we have not heard from the family pet yet. Can we expect their cat to have an article with a comment on this?
kingdaddy
November 1st, 2012
2:00 pm
I’mo make dis parsonal, an kick they a$$. Ouuuuuuuu, I doubt the Doggies will even show up now. He’s gonna make it parsonal. I sure don’t want to see him beat-up on our Dawgs…
SCDAWG
November 1st, 2012
2:01 pm
Isn’t Tood Gurley 6-1 and 210 pounds? So he should be able to run over this Joker if he lowers his pads and hits him first.
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!!
G-Dawg
November 1st, 2012
4:25 pm
Cant wait to see Little Tree lay some big wood on Big Brother Diche!!
Bleed Swag
November 1st, 2012
4:31 pm
Gurshall is going to put him on his back!!!!!! and sense the other story isn’t open I’ll comment here on that….. Now I know where he gets it from… I’m glad Robert doesn’t want to be a DAWG!!!! He and his mom are ego maniacs and don’t belong at such a place as athens…
GATA!!! 38 – 17 DAWGS!!!
harold
November 1st, 2012
5:10 pm
UGA WILL DESTROY OLE MISS AND YOU. NATIONAL TV HUMILIATION
Johnny Vaught
November 1st, 2012
5:18 pm
Please allow me to apologize … this kid has no idea what he’s going up against and he was going to get racked any way, but now he’ll get killed after running his mouth. He is youthful, please forgive him, he knows not what he says. BTW, Denzel will move to safety next fall, that or bulk up to 220 or 230, but I don’t think he has the height to carry that without slowing down … While I said he might go to safety next fall, he may not, because he’s already struggled in pass coverage while playing LB. I had a least one interference call last week and there was another that was not called. I’ll bet right now that he doesn’t give half a dozen tackles against the might Bullies this Saturday. I wish Hugh had another year or two to recruit before we played Georgia, we are really thin and you guys will wear us down and kill us.
Johnny Vaught
November 1st, 2012
5:21 pm
KIM DEE CHEE