Denzel Nkemdiche hospitalized at UMMC

Sarah Fowler | Clarion Ledger

Former Ole Miss linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche was hospitalized in Jackson on Monday after he was found unresponsive, according to emergency personnel.

According to a news release from the Ridgeland Police Department, officers responded to 711 Lake Harbor Drive at 9:31 a.m. Monday after a report of an "unresponsive male." Nkemdiche was not named in the release.

The call was deemed a "medical aid call," and the Ridgeland Fire Department was called to the scene to assist, according to the release.

Nkemdiche was then transported to University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Tuesday morning, UMMC said there was no patient listed under Nkemdiche's name.

Ridgeland Police Chief John Neal would only say, "No law enforcement action was taken, and there is no criminal investigation at this time."

Nkemdiche was hospitalized in Oxford last month after an undisclosed incident and did not play in Ole Miss' last two games, against LSU and Mississippi State. He is not considered part of the team anymore. Nkemdiche was a redshirt senior and would have been out of eligibility after the Jan. 31 Sugar Bowl.

Nkemdiche played in 10 games this season, with nine starts, and had 53 tackles (fourth on the team). He also had 6.5 tackles for loss and a half a sack, along with one pass breakup and one pass deflection. He played his best football as a redshirt freshman in 2012, leading Ole Miss in every defensive category and earning All-SEC and freshman All-American recognition. His sophomore and junior seasons were marred by injuries.

Nkemdiche's brother Robert is also out for the Sugar Bowl after he was hospitalized in Atlanta following a fall from a hotel room window. Robert Nkemdiche was charged with marijuana possession.

Contact Sarah Fowler at sfowler@gannett.com or (601) 961-7303. Follow @FowlerSarah on Twitter.