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A year into his tenure at Ole Miss, Hugh Freeze has pulled off an incredible coup by landing the nation's No. 1 recruit Robert Nkemdiche. The 6-4, 285 lb defensive end from Loganville, GA will be joining his brother Denzel Nkemdiche and automatically becomes the jewel of an amazing class for the Rebels.
The story of his journey to Ole Miss is a remarkable one.
This is the fifth consecutive season in which an SEC school has landed the nation's consensus top recruit. It's also the third that the top prize has gone to a non-traditional power. Last year, it was WR Dorial Green-Beckham to Missouri. In 2011, Jadeveon Clowney went with his home-state South Carolina. In 2010, Ronald Powell went with Urban Meyer and Florida. In 2009, Lane Kiffin secured Bryce Brown for Tennessee. NSD 2008 was the last time the top recruit didn't go to an SEC school, and that was when Terrelle Pryor chose Ohio State. Yeah, it was that long ago.
It's not all roses for Freeze, who has lost highly touted defensive end commit Elijah Daniel to Auburn. Even so, it's hard to say he's off to a bad start by landing the guy who everyone in the country wanted more than anyone else.