Denzel Nkemdiche back in hospital

Published 3:43 pm Tuesday, December 22, 2015

A month after being admitted to the hospital in Oxford, former Ole Miss linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche has reportedly been hospitalized again; however, this time at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson after being found unresponsive.

According to a report from the Ridgeland Police Department, officers responded at 9:31 a.m. Monday to 711 Lake Harbor Drive No. 1009 after someone called 911 about an unresponsive male. On arrival, it was determined to be a medical aid call and the Ridgeland Fire Department was summoned to assist. He was examined by fire and EMS personnel and transported to the hospital.

No law enforcement action was taken related to this call for service and no criminal investigation is being conducted at this time, according to the Ridgeland Police Department who did not confirm that the call was for Nkemdiche.

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However, Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network tweeted this morning that it was Denzel who was hospitalized, and not his brother, Robert, who has been suspended from the Ole Miss football team for his own off-field issues and will not play in the New Year’s Day Sugar Bowl game. Robert Nkemdiche has entered the NFL draft and is thought to be a first-round draft pick.

The reason for Denzel’s hospitalization on Nov. 19 was never officially released by the University of Mississippi Athletics Department, although it was highly rumored to be drug related.

Head Coach Hugh Freeze said Denzel was dealing with a “personal matter,” at the time but wouldn’t be more specific.

So far today, the university has not commented on Denzel’s condition.

The UMMC has no record of a Nkemdiche as a patient; however, patients may choose to hide their identity while at the hospital.