((HT: Jackson Clarion Ledger/Kellenberger))
The recruitment of Grayson (GA) High DE Robert Nkemdiche was one of those southern soap operas only National Signing Day could hold- was he going to Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, or Ole Miss...???
There was the picture from the summer camp with his friends where they were all wearing Clemson jerseys. But, not so fast...
Robert's older brother, Denzel, was already at Ole Miss and Mama Nkemdiche wasn't about to let Robert out of some kind of supervision- thus, the declaration of Ole Miss over Alabama and Clemson in the end.
Flash forward ahead a little bit...
Denzel turned 21 over the weekend and was a little rowdy about it. He was charged with disorderly conduct (failure to comply with a police officer) and disturbing the peace. Denzel and Serderius Bryant have been suspended pending results from the partying...
But, now in the Kellenberger article, it is alleged that both Nkemdiches were involved in an on-campus fight only 11 days after Robert signed to play in Oxford. At a fraternity house, an unrelated fight happened and the fraternity asked everyone to leave the house. After the defendant in the case, Matthew Baird, his girlfriend and friend were in the process of leaving it is alleged that Denzel, Robert, and five other (currently identified as) John Doe's came from behind and beat Baird unconscious.
The suit says Baird's friend jumped on top of him to shield him, but the beating continued- injuring the friend as well.
From Kellenberger:
A 911 call was made, but the defendants are alleged to have left before law enforcement arrived. The plaintiff was unconscious on the scene for 12-15 minutes and his body began to convulse in a seizure. He was treated for multiple injuries, include a closed head injury.
Baird is seeking $1 million in compensatory damages and $1 million in punitive damages, based on the alleged battery, emotional distress and loss of future earnings.
“When this alleged incident occurred, the proper authorities investigated the matter and could find no evidence of wrong-doing related to Denzel and Robert Nkemdiche or any other members of our football program,” Ole Miss AD Ross Bjork said in a statement. “This is a personal matter for them and we will support Denzel and Robert while they defend themselves in this civil case.”
The larger question the HQ has is can the plaintiff prove that the police were notified and didn't follow through on a charge...
That's the rub in all of this to us...
Here's a feature on Denzel run by the folks in Bristol...
((HT: ESPNU))
More when we know more, but OSG sources close to the situation on campus say that coaches are ruing the day that the younger Nkemdiche came to The Grove as he has been bad news ever since showing up...
And this civil suit may be case in point...
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