With all due respect to Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche might just be best college football player in the country.
He possesses an extraordinary blend of athleticism and power at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds and likely will draw a top five pick if he -- as widely assumed -- elects to forego his senior season and enter the 2016 NFL Draft.
While undeniably gifted, Nkemdiche hasn't always been the dominant force expected after he signed with the Rebels as the consensus top-rated high school player three years ago. Some scouts believe he's largely lived off his natural talent and they question his commitment to being great - and that was before Sunday's news that he was injured in a fall out of a hotel room window.
Most importantly, of course, is the fact that Nkemdiche is healthy after the fall.
According to The Clarion-Ledger, Nkemdiche was "conscious and breathing" when officers arrived on the scene of the fall and he was listed in stable condition at a local hospital. His injuries, described as "cuts," came after a 15-foot fall out of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Atlanta, where the Rebels are scheduled to play in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma State on New Year's Day.
The details of Nkemdiche's accident -- which include him reportedly breaking through his window and scaling a wall before falling approximately 15 feet -- will surely draw plenty of investigation from NFL teams considering using an early pick on the talented defensive tackle.
Among the more worrisome details is that a small amount of marijuana was reportedly found in Nkemdiche's room.
The marijuana note or fall, in itself, isn't likely to dramatically impact Nkemdiche's stock. However, for a player who has already drawn some criticism for his off-field decisions, Sunday's news is noteworthy.
During the offseason, a picture of Nkemdiche with a bong circulated the internet. Further, Nkemdiche also has been characterized as having an "off-beat" personality. One anonymous front office executive told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Nkemdiche is "really a different kid. He may scare some people. He's strange strange."
Unfortunately, the NFL Draft is littered with stories of talented players dropping due to off-field issues. A year ago, character red flags pushed former Nebraska star defensive end Randy Gregory into the second round and LSU offensive lineman La'el Collins slipped out of the draft entirely. Each has stood out for the Dallas Cowboys this season.
He possesses an extraordinary blend of athleticism and power at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds and likely will draw a top five pick if he -- as widely assumed -- elects to forego his senior season and enter the 2016 NFL Draft.
While undeniably gifted, Nkemdiche hasn't always been the dominant force expected after he signed with the Rebels as the consensus top-rated high school player three years ago. Some scouts believe he's largely lived off his natural talent and they question his commitment to being great - and that was before Sunday's news that he was injured in a fall out of a hotel room window.
Most importantly, of course, is the fact that Nkemdiche is healthy after the fall.
According to The Clarion-Ledger, Nkemdiche was "conscious and breathing" when officers arrived on the scene of the fall and he was listed in stable condition at a local hospital. His injuries, described as "cuts," came after a 15-foot fall out of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Atlanta, where the Rebels are scheduled to play in the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma State on New Year's Day.
The details of Nkemdiche's accident -- which include him reportedly breaking through his window and scaling a wall before falling approximately 15 feet -- will surely draw plenty of investigation from NFL teams considering using an early pick on the talented defensive tackle.
Among the more worrisome details is that a small amount of marijuana was reportedly found in Nkemdiche's room.
The marijuana note or fall, in itself, isn't likely to dramatically impact Nkemdiche's stock. However, for a player who has already drawn some criticism for his off-field decisions, Sunday's news is noteworthy.
During the offseason, a picture of Nkemdiche with a bong circulated the internet. Further, Nkemdiche also has been characterized as having an "off-beat" personality. One anonymous front office executive told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Nkemdiche is "really a different kid. He may scare some people. He's strange strange."
Unfortunately, the NFL Draft is littered with stories of talented players dropping due to off-field issues. A year ago, character red flags pushed former Nebraska star defensive end Randy Gregory into the second round and LSU offensive lineman La'el Collins slipped out of the draft entirely. Each has stood out for the Dallas Cowboys this season.
