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With the 2012 National Signing Day almost a week old, the college football world is already turning its attention to the class of 2013.
No player has received more publicity than Georgia's Robert Nkemdiche, as the hype surrounding the Grayson High School senior continues to grow unabated:
Another college recruiter described Nkemdiche as a younger version of Reggie White, the late NFL Hall of Famer, because of his rare combination of size, speed and strength, as well as his ability to rush quarterbacks from the edge or bull-rush guards and centers from the trenches.
The son of Nigerian immigrants, the 17-year old has physical measurements that NFL prospects four years older would envy: a 6'5 270 defensive end who bench presses 350 pounds, cleans 335, squats 500 and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.56 seconds.
Nor is he just a weight-room wonder, as he racked up 18 sacks and 17 TD's while leading Grayson to a 15-0 record and a Georgia 5A state championship as a junior.
Pursued by every major power in the Southeast, Nkemdiche has yet to give much indication of where he's leaning in the recruiting process.
He attended games at Alabama and Georgia this season and attended the Crimson Tide's Junior Day in January, but he's been linked to seven other schools -- Auburn, Florida State, USC, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Oregon -- as well.
Alabama is rumored to be the team to beat, but the Bulldogs are the school closest to his Grayson home while his older brother Denzel is currently a CB for the Rebels. In the past, Denzel has said his parents want the two brothers to play at the same school.
Either way, with a commitment unlikely to come in the near future, a "once in a generation" player is probably about to go through a "once in a generation" recruiting circus.
A highlight tape from his junior season:
For the latest on Georgia football recruiting, head over to Dawg Sports.