Nkemdiches father says comfort key for Ole Miss

Dr. Sunday Nkemdiche spent the weekend in Oxford, Miss.

By his count, it was the "ninth or 10th" weekend he has spent on and around the Ole Miss campus.

Nkemdiche was accompanying his son, Robert Nkemdiche, on his official visit to Ole Miss. Unlike an earlier official visit to Florida, the trip to Oxford was familiar and comfortable - two words that could very well help the Rebels land the nation's top-ranked prospect.

"It was a very nice visit," Sunday Nkemdiche said. "Ole Miss is a program on the rise and working to win a championship. Robert was very excited to be there. I've been to Ole Miss many times. Most of my questions have been asked. They have a very good coach in Coach (Hugh) Freeze. I know the other coaches. I'm very comfortable with them."

Nkemdiche said he didn't believe the familiarity with Oxford and Ole Miss would be the deciding factor, however. Instead, it's the family's belief that Freeze and the Rebels are going to do big things that has Ole Miss out in front in the race for the five-star defensive end.

"I like Ole Miss because the program is on the rise and they have a very good coach," Nkemdiche said. "They're having success now. I'm very familiar with the coaching staff. I don't know much about Florida's coaches. I know it's a very good program, but I don't know much about it."

Nkemdiche's middle son, Denzel, just completed an All-Southeastern Conference season as a freshman linebacker at Ole Miss. Having his two youngest sons together, naturally, is attractive to his as a father. But Nkemdiche reiterated Monday that he and his family are simply "more comfortable" at Ole Miss than other schools they have visited.

Nkemdiche said he did not expect his son to take any more official visits, adding that there would not be a trip to LSU this weekend. Nkemdiche said Robert's announcement plays are undecided, adding it will come "likely on signing day" Feb. 6.

Nkemdiche laughed when he was asked if he was relieved that the recruiting process has almost reached a conclusion.

"I'm used to the process," Nkemdiche said. "We're taking it one game at a time. Robert has had fun with it, but I didn't know it would be this serious."

[rl]