Dec 21, 2015 10:47 AM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Robert Nkemdiche was formally suspended for the Ole Miss Rebels' Sugar Bowl game against Oklahoma State on Jan. 1.

The All-SEC defensive tackle has now played his final collegiate football game, as he announced in a statement he would enter the NFL Draft, forgoing his senior season.

"While I wish I could have finished this journey with my team, I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this program, and I am ready to begin the next phase of my life," Nkemdiche said in his statement. "I have learned a valuable lesson in the last week, and I look forward to showing NFL personnel that this is not representative of my true character. I want to thank my coaches, my teammates and Rebel Nation for their support these past three years, and I look forward to making them proud for years to come."

Ole Miss head football coach Hugh Freeze told ESPN.com on Sunday he felt he had to suspend Nkemdiche per the team's disciplinary policy, but spoke highly of his character. Nkemdiche was charged with marijuana possession when police found multiple weed cigarettes in his hotel room, after being called because he fell 15 feet from a ledge outside his room.

"I'm totally indebted to this guy. He helped change our program [as the No. 1 recruit in the country when he signed]," Freeze said. "I look forward to sharing with NFL scouts and general managers his unique ability and talent."

Nkemdiche denied a report from Outkick the Coverage's Clay Travis that he was using synthetic cannabinoids at the time of his fall, which caused a delusion that someone was chasing him and led him to break his hotel room's window in order to escape.

Travis also reported that Nkemdiche's older brother Denzel, also an Ole Miss football player, previously had a similar delusion possibly also brought on by synthetic cannabinoids. Denzel, a senior, missed Ole Miss' last two regular season games and is expected to miss the Sugar Bowl.

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