Report: Ole Miss DT Robert Nkemdiche to get pre-draft visit with Cardinals
Mar 31, 2016, 9:27 AM | Updated: 9:41 pm
Mississippi defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (5) pursues Vanderbilt quarterback Johnny McCrary (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, in Oxford, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
(AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
The NFL Draft is less than one month away and the Arizona Cardinals continue to bring in prospects for visits to their Tempe training facility.
The latest player linked to the Cardinals for a visit is on the defensive side of the ball, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Speaking of Ole Miss, mercurial DL Robert Nkemdiche is in Denver visiting with the #Broncos today, then he’s got a #AZCardinals visit.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 31, 2016
Nkemdiche was an All-SEC First Team and All-American Second Team selection in 2015 when he had 29 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and three sacks for the Rebels. Coming out of Grayson High School in Loganville, GA in 2013, Nkemdiche was considered the top overall recruit in the nation by Rivals.com and chose Ole Miss over offers from every major college program in the country. Mike Mayock of NFL Network has Nkemdiche rated as the second-best defensive line prospect in this year’s draft class, behind only DeForest Buckner of Oregon, making him a possibility for the Cardinals, who have the 29th pick in the first round. Nkemdiche’s draft stock took a bit of a hit last December when he fell out of a fourth-floor window of an Atlanta hotel. Police later found marijuana in Nkemdiche’s room and he was charged with drug possession. He was also suspended and didn’t play in Mississippi’s 48-20 win over Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl. At the NFL Combine in February, Nkemdiche talked about the incident. “It was a rash decision by me — uncharacteristic,” he said. “That’s not who I am. That’s not what I stand for. That’s not what my family stands for. It was embarrassing for me and my whole family, the Ole Miss family. I tell them that’s not the kind of player they’re getting.” Nkemdiche, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 294 pounds, participated in Ole Miss’ pro day Tuesday, and according to Bleacher Report, opted not to run a 40-yard dash. He did, however, show off “rare athleticism, explosiveness and power” while participating in positional drills.
Robert Nkemdiche going through defensive line drills. pic.twitter.com/uxlXcTBkaH
— Tyler Greever (@Tyler_Greever) March 28, 2016
