When Robert Nkemdiche, the consensus top recruit in the Class of 2013, committed to Clemson in June, we opined that the biggest problem for Dabo Swinney and his staff would be holding on to the non-binding verbal over the next eight months.
Less than three months later, that could turn out to be the case, especially if a person extremely close to the talented defensive end has anything to say/do about it.
In an interview that will appear in the Sept. 17 issue of ESPN the Magazine, Nkemdiche’s mother made it clear that, one, the decision is far from set in stone and, two, she’s far from pleased with her son’s choice of Clemson.
“His decision is not final,” Beverly Nkemdiche told the magazine by way of MrSEC.com. “He’s just a teenager, and people are forgetting that. We had never discussed Clemson, and I am unhappy with Clemson. I’m not there, so I don’t know for certain, but I feel like Robert was pressured into this decision.”
Beverly currently lives in Nigeria while her son attends high school in Georgia.
For his part, and at least for now, the player is sticking firm to his verbal.
“I’m going to Clemson,” Nkemdiche said.
With the likes of Alabama, LSU and Georgia among others still in pursuit of the five-star defensive lineman, it remains to be seen whether Swinney & Company can maintain a verbal from a player who would represent the biggest recruiting coup in the head coach’s four-plus years at the school.
It’s possible I am the only one that feels this way, but it’s getting old how these parents can’t let their kids make their own choices. It is THEIR future. Let them make the decision.
It’s worked out for my alma mater in the past (Tajh Boyd’s daddy not wanting him to go to WVU), but it’s still ridiculous.
At some point you have to cut the umbillical cord, people.
Looks like Clemson fell for the Nigerian-Prince-Wants-To-Play-Football-In-The-US Scam.
@indywvu
I’m guessing you don’t have kids???? It isn’t a matter of not wanting to cut the umbilical cord but instead wanting to make certain your child (and at 17, he/she is still a child) makes the best decision for themselves. Just look at some of the “decisions” these athletes (and other students of the same age) make and tell me they are fully capable of making the right decision.
The whole nonbinding verbal commitment process is a joke. What does the verbal commitment even mean in terms of recruiting? Does it allow a school to have more contact with the athlete once the verbal commitment is made?
@spudvol
THAT was funny!!!
Your right tiger. I consult with my dad on big decisions, just for the input. At 17, a parent should be involved with such life decisions. The erosion of family is a huge problem. Why not listen to the people who only want the best for you? As long as that’s the case here, i agree with his mom.
@normtide,
You asked why not listen to the people who only want the best for you. My parents obviously wanted the best for my siblings and me, but they didn’t always have the best advice. I do believe we should listen, however I would want to know why the mother is unhappy with Clemson.
I have a couple of points. First, I do think that the parents trying to make the decision for the kid thing is old. They should be there to help inform the kid and assist him in making the right decision, but it should never be a case of the parents making that decision for the kid. I’m sick of seeing parents trying to live their dreams through their children.
Second, I know that the parents usually have to sign the LOI. Is that the case for all players or just those under 17? I would think that if a player is 18 by the time signing day rolls around, that the player should be able to make that decision for themselves.
translation=Its going to be a $$$ bidding process for my son’s services.
Isn’t this the kid who earlier this year said his commitment could/would be cemented if Clemson offered his high school team mate?
Again, whoever is parenting/advising/mentoring these kids should insist that no decision will be made public until such time as the commitment is a 100% certainty. You can’t have it both ways. Either they’re kids who need to be advised/told when their commitment decision should be made public, or they’re mature enough to make their decision public when they see fit, and if they are then they should be mature enough to handle the criticism when they vacillate.
Its very simple: keep your mouth shut until you’re absolutely certain that university X is where you’re going to go…
Feel bad for the kid. Mom says the kid may have been pressured into his non binding commitment. I get the feeling she is about to pressure him out of it.
I’m guessing somebody told momma how much fun it is getting in and out of Clemson on game day. LOL
A year ago many of the college football pundits were kicking Ole Miss like a an ole rag doll. It’s a year later and 1) they win a bowl game and 2) capture the #1 HS player in the country. That’s progress and you have to give credit to Coach Hugh Freese and his Assistant Coaches. They will now be given the respect this storied program deserves. I can see Johnny Vaught smiling down on the Rebs now…….