Robert Nkemdiche Decommits from Clemson
By Kyle Kensing
Oct 25, 2012; Winston Salem, NC, USA Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney celebrates with his players after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at BB
Speculation over how solid consensus No. 1 high school football recruit Robert Nkemdiche’s commitment to Clemson was immediate and boisterous, and on Thursday furthered with with the announcement he is decommitted from the Tigers.
Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) head coach Mickey Conn told MaxPreps that Nkemdiche has in fact decommitted. Rumors that the standout defensive end was seriously considering Ole Miss, where his brother Denzel plays, are rampant. However, Nkemdiche told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that nothing with the Rebels was yet final.
Nothing’s final now for Nkemdiche, just as nothing was final in June when he gave a verbal pledge to Dabo Swinney and Clemson. And nothing will be final until Feb. 6, National Signing Day, the first date recruits can put pen to ink. Both Clemson and Ole Miss are logical locations for the highly touted prospect Nkemdiche to land. As mentioned, his brother Denzel is currently in Oxford and a key figure in the Rebels’ surprise five-win start as the team’s leading tackler.
At Clemson, Nkemdiche would find himself in an integral role immediately, filling the defensive line void the Tigers have had since losing Da’Quan Bowers and contributing to a program built for immediate success. Nkemdiche’s committal was brief vindication for Clemson, which lost out on 2011 No. 1 overall prospect Jadeveon Clowney to in-state rival South Carolina.
Over the summer, there was a rather silly flap over Nkemdiche making comments to The AJC about Clemson recruiting fellow Grayson product Ryan Carter.
There will be much consternation and hand-wringing among recruiting followers for the three months until Nkemdiche officially signs, but his situation isn’t all that different from other top flight recruits. Notre Dame commit Alex Anzalone was heavily rumored to be in play for Florida last month; Notre Dame is similarly discussed in association with USC decommit Max Redfield.
Moreover, the aforementioned Clowney’s recruitment extended beyond National Signing Day. This is far from over for either Clemson or Ole Miss.