THE SCOOP
Robert Nkemdiche, the top recruit from Grayson who chose to join his brother Denzel at Ole Miss, seems ready for the opener Thursday against Vanderbilt.
USA Today reports that the freshman defensive end showed up for camp at 6-foot-4, 297 pounds with a six-pack of abs and a 4.6 40-yard dash time.
He then bulldozed sophomore Ethan Hutson in a one-on-one drill and put the tackle on his back with his legs flying in the air. He also can be seen on a viral video moving past Darone Bailey like Bailey wasn’t there. While neither of the linemen figure to play much, Nkemdiche will.
“He is going to play a lot,” defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said after the team’s second scrimmage.
KEEPING BUSY
Vanderbilt coach James Franklin has tried to keep his team busy and limit the distraction of the ongoing rape case.
Four former Commodores are charged with raping an unconscious woman in a campus dorm, and Franklin’s second-best receiver, suspended from the team, has been indicted as an accessory after the fact for advising someone how to cover it up.
“I am as direct and honest with my guys as possible …,” Franklin said earlier this week. “It’s an ongoing case. So it’s really, for my team, there’s really nothing new that’s happening for them. They’ve dealt with this, and we’re trying to heal and move forward.”
University officials announced June 29 that four players were dismissed from the team and barred from coming onto the campus. Then the ongoing investigation hit the team again when a grand jury indicted receiver Chris Boyd of Roswell High on Aug. 16 for allegedly advising one of the defendants how to cover up the incident. Attorney Roger May defended Boyd strongly Wednesday as an Eagle Scout with an impeccable reputation who has met repeatedly with investigators.
MOVING ON
- Former Auburn safety Demetruce McNeal transferred to Division II West Alabama. The school announced that McNeal, a senior, enrolled in classes Thursday and was to practice with his new team later in the day. Auburn coach Gus Malzahn dismissed McNeal from the team Saturday after the player's arrest on a marijuana-possession charge.
- Texas A&M's backup quarterback situation gained some clarity Thursday. Redshirt freshman Matt Davis elected to transfer, the school confirmed Thursday. Davis, who was one of three candidates battling to back up Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel this season, likely will head to a junior college.
FAN PRIDE
Fans of Alabama have taken things to a new level. Here’s what’s on the back of the new hot T-shirt in the state:
TEBOW CRIED
CAM LIED
TREE DIED
LSU TRIED
TE’O’S FAKE
GIRLFRIEND
DIED
ROLL TIDE!!
QUOTABLE
“People tell me I wasn’t big enough, I wasn’t strong enough, I wasn’t fast enough maybe. I take all of that as motivation to get bigger, stronger and faster and try to prove everyone wrong.” — Auburn running back Tre Mason, who should get most of the playing time but will be assisted by junior college transfer Cameron Artis-Payne and freshman Peyton Barber of Milton High. Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee says Barber is on “high alert” for playing time and that Barber’s size (5-11, 217) makes him “ready to play” as a freshman.
BY THE NUMBERS
4 The SEC vs. ACC intrastate rivalries that will now be played as the final game of the season starting in 2014 when Kentucky vs. Louisville moves to the final weekend. The others: Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, Florida vs. Florida State and South Carolina vs. Clemson.
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