Denzel Nkemdiche missed a handful of games for Ole Miss earlier this year due to injury. Now, his younger, more well-known brother will do the same.
Head coach Hugh Freeze confirmed Monday that a pulled hamstring suffered by prized 2013 recruit Robert Nkemdiche will keep him out for at least the next three games. The defensive end incurred the injury during Saturday’s loss to Texas A&M.
Because of the injury, Nkemdiche will miss, at minimum, games against LSU, Idaho and Arkansas. Based on Freeze’s timeline, the earliest the freshman would return would be Nov. 16 against Troy.
Nkemdiche has started all six games this season, and his four tackles for loss are tied for third on the team. A five-star member of the Rebels’ 2013 recruiting class, Nkemdiche was the consensus No. 1 player at any position this year.
In addition to Nkemdiche, leading tackler Serderius Bryant sustained a concussion against A&M and his status moving forward is uncertain as well.
“We’re a beat-up football team right now,” Freeze said. “You see other teams that go through this, and unfortunately we’ve joined the ranks with them.”