Robert Nkemdiche: Maybe too good for high school

By all accounts, heralded junior defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche did not disappoint in a 7-0 victory for Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) over Kell.

Nkemdiche was the best player on the field, helping Grayson hold Kell (Marietta, Ga.) to a paltry 54 yards. He recorded a sack and a tackle for loss.



He also became a major weapon on the Grayson offense, a role he first assumed toward the end of last season.

"It's hard to stop a guy who's 6-foot-4, 270 pounds and runs a 4.5 40 (yard dash)," Grayson coach Mickey Conn told MaxPreps correspondent Todd Holcomb after the game. "There's no doubt who's getting the ball. It's a matter of stopping him."

It was Nkemdiche's touchdown — a plunge from five yards out with seven minutes remaining — that made the difference for the Rams.

Still, it was Nkemdiche's efforts on defense that left an impression on Holcomb, who likened him to Cameron Heyward, a heralded defensive tackle during his time at Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee, Ga.).

"He's ready to play college football right now," said Holcomb. "He's the only full-time returning starter on Grayson's defense, and they shut out a team that went 12-1 last season. It's a great young defense, and Nkemdiche is the ringleader."

Of all the praise that Nkemdiche has received up to this point, the most compelling might be from Kell head coach Derek Cook, who was in awe of his performance on Saturday.

''He has no business playing in high school. He is ready for college right now physically. He would be a candidate to go straight from high school to the NFL. He is going to be a great college and NFL player if he stays healthy and out of trouble," he said.

Cook is no stranger to NFL-caliber talent, having coached Steelers running back Jonathan Dwyer and the late Kenny McKinley, former Broncos receiver.

Nkemdiche's brother, Denzel, is a freshman at Ole Miss right now, so the Rebels could have an advantage in Nkemdiche's recruitment, which still appears rather open.

However, Alabama could be the team to watch. The Crimson Tide has a recent history of producing top defensive tackles, and Nick Saban has had some success recruiting the state of Georgia recently, having landed 2012 recruits Geno Smith, Kenyan Drake and Dillon Lee along with prized 2013 linebacker Reuben Foster.

Nkemdiche headlined the recent release of the MaxPreps Class of 2013 Top 100 Watch List.

Rough start for top QBs
Although Gunner Kiel and Chad Voytik are both top-rated quarterbacks in the class of 2012, neither put forth a stellar effort in season-opening games on Friday night.

Kiel, the nation's No. 1-ranked quarterback, completed just four of 17 passes for a mere 44 yards in a 28-7 win over Greenwood. He was reportedly victimized by some dropped passes, but still threw two touchdown passes and rushed for 70 yards.

Pittsburgh-bound Chad Voytik had an equally rough start to his senior campaign in Cleveland's opener against Alcoa (Tenn.). Defending 3A champion Alcoa blanked Cleveland (Tenn.) 21-0; Voytik was limited to 10 of 19 passing for 119 yards and two intercetpions.

Both Kiel and Voytik should bounce back and enjoy fine senior seasons.