Ole Miss Rebels

Ole Miss DT Nkemdiche charged with possession of marijuana

Published Dec. 14, 2015 1:56 p.m. ET

foxsports

Mississippi defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche has been charged with possession of marijuana after being hospitalized following a fall at an Atlanta hotel.

Police say the 21-year-old from Loganville, Georgia broke a hotel room window, walked about 15 feet, climbed over a wall and fell roughly 15 feet late Saturday night.

A police report said a double pane window in the room had been busted and the room was in ''complete disarray.'' The report also said there were ''approximately 7 rolled marijuana cigarettes'' in plain sight that police linked to Nkemdiche.

The police investigation is ongoing, the report stated.

Nkemdiche's status is unclear for the Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl game between Ole Miss (9-3) and Oklahoma State (10-2). Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze is scheduled to address the media before Monday's practice.

When police arrived on Saturday night, Nkemdiche was lying on the concrete in front of the Hyatt Hotel where he was ''conscious and breathing.'' There were several ''associates'' of Nkemdiche at the scene but ''none of them claimed to know what transpired,'' according to the report.

The 6-foot-4, 296-pound Nkemdiche has more to worry about than just his status for the upcoming Sugar Bowl - he's considered a potential first-round NFL draft pick this spring and the incident could affect his draft stock.

He was the consensus top recruit in the country three years ago, anchored the Rebels' defensive line this season and was selected to the AP All-America second team on Sunday.

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Associated Press writer Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this story.

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