Robert Nkemdiche denied his alleged use of synthetic cannabinoids in a formal apology for the incident that resulted in him falling about 15 feet from a ledge outside his hotel room, but did not mention the drug charge pending against him.
The Ole Miss defensive tackle also did not mention how the double-paned window leading to the ledge from which he fell came to be broken, The Jackson Clarion-Ledger reported.
"I want to apologize to Rebel Nation, my teammates and my coaches for my actions last weekend," he said in a statement distributed by the University of Mississippi. "I made a mistake and put myself in an environment that does not reflect who I am as a person. Contrary to a report by FOX Sports, I did not use synthetic drugs. I realize the dangers of drugs and alcohol and regret the lapse in judgment.
"This does not reflect the core values that my mother and father instilled in our family. I am a very spiritual person, and drugs have no place in my belief system. As I move forward, I have learned a valuable lesson about the ramifications of a bad decision. I have worked very hard to have this platform, and I want to use it in the right way and be a role model for young players. I am sorry for putting Coach (Hugh) Freeze in this position and will accept whatever consequences are necessary, but my hope is to finish this year's journey with my brothers."
The report Nkemdiche referenced came from Outkick the Coverage's Clay Travis, who cited unnamed sources that told him the Ole Miss football player was using synthetic cannabinoids, sometimes referred to as synthetic marijuana. The drug is made with chemicals that hide it in urine test results, but can also cause hallucinations.
Citing his sources, Travis learned Nkemdiche broke the window to his hotel room before dropping to the ledge about 15 feet below because he was afraid someone was chasing him. He fell another 15 feet to the ground, but landed in a bush that helped break his fall.
After an ambulance arrived to take to a hospital, Travis' report indicated Nkemdiche was unable to provide even his name, let alone an explanation for the incident. Police found seven marijuana cigarettes in Nkemdiche's hotel room, resulting in a possession charge, ESPN noted.
Just a few weeks earlier, Nkemdiche's older brother Denzel, a linebacker at Ole Miss, was hospitalized under mysterious circumstances. Reports indicated he was found unconscious, but Travis learned Denzel used synthetic marijuana and wound up lying on his off-campus residence's roof. Like his brother, Denzel was paranoid about someone being out to get him.
Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze has not officially ruled Robert Nkemdiche out of the Rebels' Sugar Bowl game against Oklahoma State, though it appears Denzel will miss the game.
