Ole Miss LB Nkemdiche improving but out for Saturday

Daniel Paulling | The Clarion-Ledger

OXFORD - Denzel Nkemdiche, No. 22 Ole Miss’ leading tackler, remained in the hospital Thursday and will not play in a critical game against No. 15 LSU on Saturday.

While Nkemdiche saw an improvement in his condition, according to a statement released Thursday and attributed to coach Hugh Freeze and Nkemdiche’s parents, Sunday and Beverly, he’ll remain at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford.

“His well-being is all that matters right now, and we are making sure he receives the highest level of medical care,” the statement read. “While his condition is not life-threatening, he will not play this weekend. We thank the Ole Miss family for their concern and encouragement, and we appreciate everyone respecting the family’s privacy during this time.”

The Rebels (7-3, 4-2 SEC) play host to the Tigers (7-2, 4-2 SEC) on Saturday (2:30 p.m., CBS).

The Rebels need to win their final two games and for Alabama to lose to Auburn next week to have an opportunity to make the Southeastern Conference championship game. Beyond that goal, this is a game Ole Miss needs to win in order to improve its bowl game status.

The aforementioned statement, released around midday Thursday, was the first public acknowledgement of Nkemdiche’s status by Ole Miss. However, a reason for his hospitalization (he’s been at Baptist Memorial since Monday) has not yet been given. Freeze described Nkemdiche on Wednesday as “questionable” for the LSU game because of “personal matters.” RebelGrove.com, a Rivals affiliate, reported hours later that Nkemdiche was in the ICU.

Nkemdiche will miss his final home game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday. His 53 tackles in 10 games (nine starts) lead the Rebels. Nkemdiche also has 6.5 tackles for loss, half a sack and one pass breakup, quarterback hurry and pass deflection.

Ole Miss will likely turn to sophomore DeMarquis Gates to replace Nkemdiche in the starting lineup. Freeze said Wednesday evening that sophomores Taylor Polk and Ray Ray Smith and junior Temario Strong were other options at the position.

Nkemdiche’s absence comes at a difficult time for the Rebels.

LSU features a Heisman Trophy candidate in running back Leonard Fournette, who leads the FBS in rushing yards per game (163.8) and ranks second in rushing touchdowns (17).

The key to limiting the impact Fournette can make, the Rebels have said over and over again, is stopping him quickly.

“He’s going to make some people miss,” defensive lineman Woodrow Hamilton said. “That’s what he do. It’s going to take more than two or three hats around the ball. We’re going to have to really be the Landshark ‘D’ that we’re capable of being to stop him and get him to the ground.

“If you don’t let him get started, then they’re going to have a long night. But if we do let him get started, we’re going to have a long night.”

There are elements of Gates’ game and abilities that already were liable to match-up well against LSU’s run-first offense.

Nkemdiche’s probable replacement has collected 25 tackles over the past four games, including seven against Arkansas on Nov. 7. Nkemdiche has 15 over that stretch but had 24 over consecutive games against Alabama and Vanderbilt in September.

“(Gates is) still young and has made some mistakes, but he has played really solid for us in the number of snaps he’s gotten, which have continued from week to week,” Freeze said. “I think he’s ready for this challenge. We’re excited about him getting this opportunity.”

Gates’ recent success gives him 48 tackles this season, third on the team and five shy of Nkemdiche’s team-leading 53. Safety Trae Elston ranks second on the Rebels with 52.

Gates has more pass breakups and quarterback hurries than Nkemdiche, and also has a forced fumble this season. Gates is 6-foot-2 and 217 pounds, as compared to Nkemdiche’s 5-foot-11, 208-pound frame. Fournette stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 230 pounds, an imposing presence for a running back and someone who’s barreled over defenders repeatedly this season.

“He’s a big guy,” linebacker C.J. Johnson said. “He’s a guy who makes you miss one-on-one and sometimes will try to run you over. You watch film on Fournette, you don’t see him do a lot of jump cuts. He’s a one-cut, downhill kind of guy who runs square behind his pads.”

Contact Daniel Paulling at dpaulling@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @DanielPaulling on Twitter.