Freeze: Nkemdiche's status for Sugar Bowl uncertain

OXFORD - Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche's status for the Sugar Bowl remains uncertain after being charged with possession of marijuana Monday by the Atlanta Police Department, coach Hugh Freeze said Monday afternoon.

"There's no cut and dry answer," said Freeze, who said Nkemdiche has stitches and that Nkemdiche was expected to return to campus Monday.

The Atlanta Police Department said in a report that it found approximately seven rolled marijuana cigarettes in a hotel room tied to him at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead after responding to an incident last Saturday night.

Members of the GI Squad, Narcotics Unit and Crime Scene Unit responded to the hotel following a 911 call about an injured person, which was Nkemdiche. An APD report released Sunday afternoon said Nkemdiche fell down an approximately 15-foot wall.

Nkemdiche was conscious and breathing when police responded and was in stable condition when taken to a local hospital, according to the report.

The No. 12 Rebels (9-3, 6-2 SEC) play No. 16 Oklahoma State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) on Jan. 1 (7:30 p.m., ESPN) in the Sugar Bowl.

“We are still learning about the matter, but obviously Robert's well-being is our greatest concern,” Freeze said in a statement released Sunday afternoon.

Nkemdiche’s older brother, Denzel Nkemdiche, was hospitalized for an undisclosed reason last month. Freeze said last week that he doesn’t expect the elder Nkemdiche, a senior linebacker who missed the team’s past two games, to participate in the Sugar Bowl.

Contact Daniel Paulling at dpaulling@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @DanielPaulling on Twitter.