Robert Nkemdice. Photo credit espn.com
The name Robert Nkemdiche may not be a household name yet, but he’s causing quite a stir around the NCAA recruiting circuit. Nkemdiche is a senior defensive end from Loganville, Georgia who already stands 6’5” and weighs 270 pounds. He’s the number one player in the country, and is a better high school prospect than JaDaveon Clowney. See the picture to the left? That’s a grown man.
Nkemdiche has stirred the recruiting pot so to speak. Originally, he committed to Clemson in June, before de-committing from the Tigers in November. Most people will assume that like every high schooler ever, he’s prone to change his mind, and that this announcement is no big deal.
Except now, Nkemdiche is looking for a collegiate home, and Ole Miss looks like the front runner. Robert’s older brother, Denzel is already in Oxford, and plays linebacker for the Rebels. Robert has been quoted saying “Yes, it would be real hard for me not to go to Ole Miss; that’s a family thing…It would be real hard not to do that, real hard”
That seems innocent enough, right. The kid wants to play college ball with his older brother. But if that was the case, why wouldn’t he have committed to Ole Miss to begin with? And why the change of heart now?
The reasons may not sound shocking, but could jeopardize both of the Nkemdiche brothers’ NCAA eligibility. Their father, Sunday Nkemdiche, who is a 
doctor, was reportedly promised a job at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC). If he accepted the job, the NCAA could technically view that as receiving improper benefits. But Sunday Knemdiche is a qualified doctor, so this may not stick.
Dr. Richard L. Summers, Professor and Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine, and the man who was going to hire has denied any wrong doing, stating that Sunday Nkemdiche was never promised a job. He applied for a job at UMC in April of 2012, and withdrew his application shortly after, stating he wanted to remain in Georgia with Robert for his senior year of high school.
The new allegations being made claim that the real reason Nkemdiche withdrew his application was because he was promised a job in the spring of 2013, after his son would already be enrolled at Ole Miss.
The university hasn’t commented, per NCAA recruiting policy.
2 comments
Andy
January 9, 2013 at 9:10 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Seriously, you need to check the definition of a booster by the NCAA. In no WAY would his dad accepting a job at the UMC make him a booster. However, if they could prove that he was receiving the position as part of getting his sons to the university that would be considered an impermissible benefit and his son could be declared ineligible.
So, yes you are right about this having ramifications, but being hired at the university in no way, shape, or form makes him a booster. You actually have to donate $$$ to the athletic department specifically to become a booster.
Justin
January 10, 2013 at 2:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
Go figure the only people reporting this garbage are CLEMSON & Alabama blogs lol Get over it u lost RN this is not new news this is 7 months old was dropped by the state of miss and looked into by the NCAA and DISSMISSED just a bunch of butthurt schools who lost a player or in CLEMSON’s case 2 players actually 3 lol There is nothing illegal about wanted to work close to your son get over it