Nkemdiche is stable, suspected marijuana found
OXFORD - Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche fell about 15 feet from an Atlanta hotel Saturday night, but the junior was conscious when officers reported to the scene and was in stable condition when taken to a local hospital, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
An APD report added that a small amount of what was suspected to be marijuana was found in a hotel room at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. A call by The Clarion-Ledger to the hotel’s general manager, Scott Snipes, wasn’t immediately returned.
“It appears that the victim (Nkemdiche) broke the window and then walked approximately 15 feet and climbed over a wall and fell approximately 15 feet,” read the report.
Cody Chaffins of Fox 5 Sports in Atlanta first reported the news.
Members of the GI Squad, the Narcotics Unit and Crime Scene Unit responded to the scene, according to the report, which was released Sunday afternoon to The Clarion-Ledger.
An Atlanta Police Department spokesperson wasn’t certain Sunday afternoon whether charges would be filed against Nkemdiche.
“We are still learning about the matter, but obviously Robert's well-being is our greatest concern,” coach Hugh Freeze said in a statement released by an athletic department spokesman.
A picture of Nkemdiche with a bong circulated on the Internet last year.
The 6-foot-4, 296-pound Nkemdiche has 29 tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks this season. Mock drafts have widely projected him to be taken within the first round of next April’s NFL Draft, if he chooses to pursue a pro career early.
The No. 12 Rebels (9-3, 6-2 SEC) play No. 16 Oklahoma State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 (7:30 p.m., ESPN) to close their season.
Nkemdiche’s status for the game remains uncertain. Freeze has a previously scheduled press conference on Monday afternoon.
Nkemdiche’s older brother, Denzel Nkemdiche, was hospitalized for an undisclosed reason last month. Freeze said last week that he doesn’t expect the elder Nkemdiche, a senior linebacker who missed the team’s past two games, to participate in the Sugar Bowl.
Contact Daniel Paulling at dpaulling@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @DanielPaulling on Twitter.