No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche cancels trip to LSU and Baton Rouge

Gamedayr | January 28, 2013 at 5:41 pm | 3 Comments

Team Highlight defensive end Robert Nkemdiche (1) during the second half at the Under Armour All-America high school Game at Tropicana Field. Team Highlight defeated the Team Nitro 16-3. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

The nation’s No. 1-overall recruit, Robert Nkemdiche, has been drooled over for the last few years. In all of that time, he has rarely tipped his hand in terms of where he might play in college. However, in an unexpected move, the superstar defensive end has cancelled a recruiting trip to LSU, perhaps signalling an end to his school search.

Nkemdiche’s brother, Denzel, led Ole Miss in tackles as a freshman linebacker. Ever since younger brother rescinded his commitment from Clemson in November, the Rebels have thus been considered to be in the lead for his services.

In fact, Robert visited Oxford over the weekend, along with No. 1 offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and No. 1 wideout Laquon Treadwell. Treadwell has already committed, but Tunsil reported on Monday that he is still deliberating between Georgia and Ole Miss.

That leaves us at Nkemdiche. Since leaving Clemson in the dust, the hard-hitting big boy has been connected to LSU, Florida and, again, Ole Miss. According to AL.com, his father loves Ole Miss — and helped his son make the decision to cancel the LSU trip.

“I like Ole Miss because the program is on the rise and they have a very good coach,” Dr. 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.”

The game of high school recruiting can be fickle, at the very best. It is the job of the Florida Gators recruiting and coaching staff to make themselves familiar to the Nkemdiche family.

However, it looks like, at this point at least, the powerful draw of family already living in Oxford was too much for LSU’s staff to overcome.