Robert Nkemdiche issues apology, denies using synthetic drugs

Ole Miss defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche has issued an apology to fans after reports surfaced of him falling out of a window on Saturday.

Ole Miss’s standout defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, and potential top-5 2016 NFL draft pick, made headlines when a report surfaced of him falling out of a window of an Atlanta hotel. When police units arrived, they found traces of marijuana. This incident does nothing but distract the Rebels before their Sugar Bowl game against Oklahoma State. It’s unclear how far his draft stock could potentially drop, but this will likely affect scouts’ reports on him.

With his status for the Sugar Bowl up in the air, Nkemdiche has come forward with a statement, which reads like this:

"I want to apologize to Rebel Nation, my teammates and my coaches for my actions last weekend. I made a mistake and put myself in an environment that does not reflect who I am as a person.Contrary to a report by Fox Sports I did not use synthetic drugs. I realize the dangers of drugs and alcohol and regret the lapse in judgment. This does not reflect the core values that my mother and father instilled in our family. I am a very spiritual person, and drugs have no place in my belief system.As I move forward, I have learned a valuable lesson about the ramifications of a bad decision. I have worked very hard to have this platform, and I want to use it in the right way and be a role model for young players. I am sorry for putting Coach Freeze in this position and will accept whatever consequences are necessary, but my hope is to finish this year’s journey with my brothers."

While the statement is a good move on Nkemdiche’s part, it is unwise of him to deny his use of synthetic drugs. It’s hard to argue with an official police report, and if he was in fact using marijuana, he should own up to his own mistake rather than try to deny it in an attempt to play in the Sugar Bowl.

Regardless, Nkemdiche is a very talented player and he is doing his best to clear the air with the coaching staff and Ole Miss fans.