SB Nation Atlanta: All Posts by Jakob Engelke

Robert Nkemdiche: 'Hard for me not to go to Ole Miss'

2013-01-03T15:48:47Z

Robert Nkemdiche, the undisputed No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2013, made some promising comments for Ole Miss fans while speaking with reporters Wednesday after practice for the Under Armour All-American Football Game.

SB Nation reported in October that Nkemdiche would likely de-commit from Clemson and join his brother at Ole Miss.

"It would be real hard for me not to go to Ole Miss; that's a family thing," Nkemdiche told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. "It would be real hard not to do that, real hard."

Nkemdiche's older brother, Denzel Nkemdiche, is a linebacker at Ole Miss, and the younger Nkemidiche plans to leave Florida immediately after Friday's Under Armour game to travel to Birmingham, Ala., and watch Ole Miss take on Pitt in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

Nkemidiche, a 6'4, 285-pound defensive end out of Grayson High School in Loganville, Ga., de-committed from Clemson on Nov. 8 and is also considering scholarship offers from Alabama and LSU.

However, he has apparently been recruiting players at Under Armour practices to join him at Ole Miss, leading to speculation that the Rebels have already won his commitment, according to Cody Worsham of Tiger Rag.

Lady Dogs open SEC play Thursday against Missouri

2013-01-03T14:42:58Z

Coming off its first loss of the season -- a 70-59 defeat to Illinois -- the Georgia Lady Dogs women's basketball team is set to open a grueling 16-game SEC schedule that features multiple contests against nationally-ranked opponents.

The No. 10 Lady Dogs won their first 12 games of the season before being upset by Illinois on Dec. 28. With that loss still fresh in their minds, players are ready to bounce back with a win in Thursday's SEC opener against Missouri (11-3).

"SEC season has gotten here pretty fast, but it's time to go right now," guard Khaalidah Miller told the Athens Banner-Herald. "I didn't expect us to lose to Illinois. I think we just weren't prepared going into that game like we have been in the past. We've got to learn from it, treat it as a learning experience and try to get ready for SEC."

After playing just four major conference opponents in its first 12 games -- Illinois, Rutgers, Georgia Tech and TCU -- SEC play signals a significant jump in competition for Georgia. The league boasts six teams in the top-25.

Georgia, which is 25-5 in conference openers, hosts Missouri on Thursday at 7 p.m. inside the Stegeman Coliseum.

Georgia's goals the same in 2013 despite roster changes

2013-01-03T14:09:19Z

The Georgia Bulldogs will lose plenty of talent during the offseason due to graduations and early departures to the NFL. But that doesn't mean players or coaches expect any less of the team next season. For them, it's a next-man-up mentality with the same goals of winning the SEC and reaching the BCS National Championship.

"We're going to work hard and compete and we know it's going to be fun because these seniors that we have here now leaving, they kind of went through this a few years ago," defensive coordinator Todd Grantham told the Athens Banner Herald. "The difference is the young players that we have here now have kind of heard it even though they haven't played it, so they kind of know a little bit."

Georgia's defense will lose its top four tacklers and eight of its top 11 and likely return just three starters, according to the report. The team's offense, though, is guaranteed to return the entire starting offensive line and running backs Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall. Quarterback Aaron Murray could return for a senior season, but he could also depart to the NFL.

"We've got guys that are ready to step in that are on the scout team," Gurley told the Banner Herald. "And I know there's going to be a couple of freshmen next year that are going to come in and show out."

Georgia finished its 2012-13 season with a 45-31 win over Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. It was the second straight season the Bulldogs have won 12 games.

UGA football recruiting: Alvin Kamara deciding on final visit

2013-01-03T13:47:51Z

Alabama and Georgia have long been the frontrunners to land the services of Alvin Kamara, a highly-sought, four-star prospect in the class of 2013. And with National Signing Day rapidly approaching, Kamara still has a very important decision to make in regards to where he eventually suits up in college.

The 5'10, 195-pound all-purpose back from Norcross, Ga., will decide where he plans to take his final official visit the weekend of Feb. 1 sometime next week, according to a report in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"I'm not certain where I will take that last visit, I'm still trying to figure it out," Kamara told the AJC. "Both Alabama and Georgia want that last visit, so I still got to watch and see.

"It's pretty intense about that last weekend. I guess it's important to Alabama and Georgia because they both want me to see their school last, so it's burned in my mind."

Kamara is practicing for the Under Armour All American Game this week in Kissimmee, Fla., at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. The game, which features top high school prospects from across the nation, will be played at Tropicana Field on Friday at 5 p.m.

National Signing Day is Wednesday, Feb. 6.

Arizona Cardinals prepare for Charles Tillman and attempts to force fumbles

2012-12-21T17:53:00Z

Chicago Bears cornerback Charles Tillman remains one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and his ability to force fumbles is something the Arizona Cardinals are focusing on this week in practice, according to a report on the team's official website.

Tillman has forced 10 fumbles this season, while the Bears as a whole have forced 22 fumbles.

"Tillman can definitely teach an instructional tape on how to force turnovers," wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "But the whole defense has a knack for it. We have to be very careful."

The Bears boast the league's sixth-best pass defense and 12th-best rush defense. Chicago's blitz-heavy, attack-oriented and turnover-causing schemes have caused headaches for opponents this season.

"It reminds me of one of my college teammates, Tyrann Mathieu," Patrick Peterson said. "There are guys who have a knack for getting the ball in certain situations. I believe it's a gift. I try to strip the ball out each and every time and it never comes out for me. It's a God-given gift that those guys get the ball out when they want."

The Cardinals (5-9) host the Bears (8-6) on Sunday at 2:25 p.m. MT. The game will be televised by Fox.

Richard Sherman suspension: No appeal decision this week, according to report

2012-12-21T17:28:16Z

Seattle Seahawks' cornerback Richard Sherman will travel to New York and be present at his appeals hearing at the NFL's league offices, according to a report by ESPN.com's Ed Werder.

The NFL will not make a decision on Sherman, who faces a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, until next week, according to the report. Multiple outlets have reported the drug Sherman took that violated league rules was Adderall, a psychostimulant drug that is prescribed by doctors to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy.

Sherman, who missed practice on both Thursday and Friday while traveling to New York, has recorded 56 tackles, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and one sack this season. Since the decision from the league will not be handed down until next week, Sherman will likely be eligible to play this Sunday when the Seahawks host the NFC West-leading San Francisco 49ers, according to the report.

Bowl game schedule 2012: Action ramps up with three games this weekend

2012-12-21T17:12:47Z

With three games already in the books -- BYU, Utah State and Arizona have already claimed victories -- college bowl season ramps up this weekend with a slate of three games. Here is a look at each contest.

-- Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl --

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 21, 4:30 p.m. PT.

WHERE: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla.

WHO: Ball State Cardinals (9-3) vs. Central Florida Knights (9-4).

ODDS: Central Florida by 7.5 points.

-- R&L Carriers Bowl --

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 22, 9 a.m. PT.

WHERE: Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La.

WHO: East Carolina Pirates (8-4) vs. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (8-4).

ODDS: Louisiana-Lafayette by four points.

-- MAACO Las Vegas Bowl --

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 22, 12:30 p.m. PT.

WHERE: Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev.

WHO: Washington Huskies (7-5) vs. No. 19 Boise State Broncos (10-2)

ODDS: Boise State by six points.

The entire bowl schedule for this weekend -- and beyond -- can be found HERE.

College Football Bowl Game Picks Against the Spread (via sbnation)

Cardinals' Senio Kelemete struggled with transition from tackle to guard

2012-12-21T16:41:32Z

Since being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals, offensive lineman Senio Kelemete has struggled with the transition from tackle to guard, according to a report on the team's official website.

Kelemete, the former standout at Washington who was drafted by Arizona in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, is the only rookie to not suit up for the Cardinals this season. The 6'4, 300-pound 22-year-old has been inactive every game and it will likely stay that way for the team's final two outings of the season, according to the report.

"He probably had the furthest to go from where he was playing [tackle] in college to playing guard in the NFL," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "He's a good young prospect ... The only way we will get a real test is to see him in a game, and I don't know if that will happen over the last two weeks."

The Cardinals (5-9) host the Chicago Bears (8-6) on Sunday at 2:25 p.m. MST. The game will be televised by FOX.