HottyToddy Hometown: Loganville, Georgia

Although the small town of Loganville only has a about 11,000 residents, it covers two Georgia counties. Though the town is located mostly in Walton County, Gwinnett County can also lay some claim to the two future Ole Miss football All-Americans, brothers Denzel and Robert Nkemdiche.

Loganville is a little southern town to be sure, but being only a short drive from Atlanta the town is no stranger to big time college, pro and Olympic sports. But until the brothers broke onto the national football scene the only sports career being followed was that of native son Brandon Moss with pro baseball team in the Oakland A’s. But it was nothing like the hype and hopes surrounding these two boys.

Denzel Nkemdiche, Robert Nkemdiche
Courtesy of Grayson High School Athletic Department

Denzel Nkemdiche entered the college ranks with some fanfare and many hopes for his future from the faithful at Grayson High School in Loganville. As Denzel’s great on-the-field stats at Ole Miss began to lead the Rebel defense, so Robert Nkemdiche began to the lead the nation’s 2013 high school recruits as the #1 overall player in the land. When the Ole Miss Rebels hit their stride in late November and beat the Mississippi State Bulldogs to end the regular season, thousands of students rushed the field and in the middle of the celebration, were Denzel and Robert. At that point many of the Loganville faithful knew they’d be following both their rising stars together, at Ole Miss.

The college football recruitment process gave a shot in the arm to the local economy. The town buzzed as reporters, TV crews, coaches and NCAA officials camped out in Loganville for weeks on in. The town and Grayson High School had their “15 minutes of fame” measured in media hours and days.

Now its all over but the shouting. Grayson High gears up for another season of Ram football. The Nkemdiches are on the Ole Miss practice field and the buzz around college football recruiting is about the Class of 2014. But barring injury, the Walton and Gwinnett county football faithful will be buzzing about the brothers Nkemdiche through their Ole Miss years, on into pro football and who knows, maybe Canton, Ohio one day.

— John Cofield, Email him at johnbcofield@gmail.com