Nkemdiche suspended for Sugar Bowl, declares for draft

Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche has been suspended for the Sugar Bowl and has declared for the NFL Draft, according to a statement released Sunday morning by the Ole Miss athletic department.

"Last week, our athletics director (Ross Bjork) and I informed Robert that he will not be joining us for the bowl game," coach Hugh Freeze said in the statement. "In addition, Robert has decided to declare for the NFL Draft, and we will continue to support him as he prepares for the next chapter in his life. I look forward to sharing with NFL general managers and scouts what a unique and talented individual he is. Robert has made an immeasurable impact on our program, and we are forever indebted to him. He and his family will always be part of the Ole Miss family."

Added Nkemdiche: "While I wish I could have finished this journey with my team, I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this program, and I am ready to begin the next phase of my life. I have learned a valuable lesson in the last week, and I look forward to showing NFL personnel that this is not representative of my true character. I want to thank my coaches, my teammates and Rebel Nation for their support these past three years, and I look forward to making them proud for years to come."

Ole Miss Spirit's Ben Garrett first reported Nkemdiche wouldn't play in the Sugar Bowl.

Nkemdiche's status became a question mark a week ago when he fell off an approximately 15-foot wall at an Atlanta-area hotel, according to the Atlanta Police Department. Freeze said Monday that it was not "cut and dry" whether or not Nkemdiche would be able to play in the bowl game, though a day later Nkemdiche released a statement through Ole Miss that said he hoped to.

"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," Nkemdiche said.

But Nkemdiche was not participating in either bowl practice open to the media last week -- Woodrow Hamilton and D.J. Jones were taking snaps at the two defensive tackle positions -- and Freeze has not talked to the media since to update Nkemdiche's status.

Nkemdiche played in 11 games as a junior, recording 29 tackles (seven for a loss) with three sacks, seven quarterback hurries and two passes broken up. The sacks were a career-best for Nkemdiche, who will be an early pick in this spring's NFL Draft.

Another option to replace Nkemdiche would be redshirt freshman Breeland Speaks. He impressed during the time Nkemdiche missed this season with a concussion; Speaks had 30 tackles, five for a loss, with one sack, mostly as a reserve. Speaks has been considered Nkemdiche's likely replacement fulltime in 2016, so the Sugar Bowl will serve as an extended warmup for that.

The No. 12 Rebels (9-3, 6-2 SEC) play No. 16 Oklahoma State (10-2, 7-2) on Jan. 1 (7:30 p.m., ESPN).

The Cowboys are ninth-best nationally in scoring (41.2 points per game) and No. 10 in passing yards per attempt (9.1). However the team is fairly one-dimensional, barely in the top-100 in total rushing attempts and 111th in yards per carry (3.69).