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Former No. 1 football recruit arrested after allegedly shoving groceries in pants and leaving store
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Former No. 1 football recruit arrested after allegedly shoving groceries in pants and leaving store originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
Former No. 1 high school recruit and NFL defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche was arrested in Georgia last week after an incident that involved him allegedly stealing groceries, according to a police report obtained by TMZ Sports .
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Nkemdiche was reportedly spotted by police leaving a Kroger grocery store "with groceries in his pants," per TMZ, and authorities then learned there were multiple warrants out for the former defensive tackle.
Nkemdiche, a former first-round NFL Draft pick, formerly played for multiple NFL teams after being drafted by the Arizona Cardinals .
Here's what's known about Nkemdiche's arrest following his alleged stolen groceries incident.
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Why was Robert Nkemdiche arrested?
TMZ reported on Wednesday that Nkemdiche was arrested in Georgia last week after he had an incident with police, and authorities then found multiple warrants in several states in the system, including three in Georgia. Nkemdiche was then taken to jail and booked, per TMZ.
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Prior to his arrest, Nkemdiche had been seen by police allegedly walking out of a Kroger grocery store with "groceries in his pants." That was not the reason he was arrested, per TMZ, but officers then "called for backup as Nkemdiche walked to a gas station" after seeking the former NFL player with "many large objects, square and rectangular shapes, consistent with concealed grocery items, inside his sweatpants."
After officers made contact with Nkemdiche, the police report said he was placed in handcuffs. While he no longer had the alleged stolen items in his pants, according to TMZ , "frozen grocery items, candy bars and almond milk were found after a search of the Kroger and gas station parking lots."
The grocery store, Kroger, reportedly did not want to press charges on Nkemdiche, but "did want Nkemdiche criminally trespassed from the establishment," per TMZ. It was after this incident that police discovered Nkemdiche's arrest warrants.
Who is Robert Nkemdiche?
Nkemdiche is a former NFL defensive tackle and top-ranked high school recruit. He attended Ole Miss from 2013-15 as one of the top young players at his position, then was selected 29th overall by the Cardinals in the 2016 NFL Draft. While in college, he was named a second-team All-American and First-Team All-SEC selection in 2015.
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Nkemdiche played for the Cardinals from 2016-18. He made just five appearances in his rookie season, then recorded 11 tackles in 2017. After posting his first career sack in 2018 and totaling 32 tackles and 4.5 sacks, Nkemdiche was placed on IR, and he was waived by Arizona in July 2019 with a failed physical designation.
Over the next few years, the defensive tackle spent time with various NFL teams. In 2019, he signed a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins , but was waived by November as he recovered from a knee surgery.
In 2021, Nkemdiche signed with the Seahawks , spending time on the team's practice squad. He was signed by the 49ers in the summer of 2022, then released during training camp.
In 2023, Nkemdiche spent time with the Michigan Panthers of the USFL, and in 2024, he signed with the Edmonton Elks of the CFL. He was released by the Elks in July 2024.
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Robert Nkemdiche charges
Nkemdiche's charges following the alleged grocery-stealing incident have not been reported. However, TMZ reported that the grocery store, Kroger, did not want to press charges over the stolen goods, but it was Nkemdiche's outstanding arrest warrants that led to his booking.
In 2015, Nkemdiche was charged with marijuana possession after a fall from the fourth floor of an Atlanta hotel during his time at Ole Miss. In March 2025, he was arrested in Keensaw, Georgia, for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, and driving without proof of insurance after an incident where Nkemdiche allegedly threatened the manager at a bowling alley, per the Marietta Daily Journal.
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In July 2025, Nkemdiche was arrested by Gwinnett County Police for allegedly shoplifting a bottle of wine from a gas station in Buford, Georgia, per NewsBreak.
Robert Nkemdiche recruiting ranking
Nkemdiche was once considered the top overall prospect in his high-school class coming out of Grayson High School in Georgia.
Considered a five-star defensive tackle recruit, Nkemdiche was the top player in the Class of 2013, beating out future NFL talent like Chris Jones (No. 2) and Laremy Tunsil (No. 3), according to 247Sports.
He initially committed to Clemson in June 2012, but after his brother committed to Ole Miss, Nkemdiche joined him by flipping his commitment to the Rebels, becoming the best recruit for the program since Eli Manning in 1999.
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Does Robert Nkemdiche still play in the NFL?
No, Nkemdiche no longer plays in the NFL. His last stint with a team was in July 2022, when he signed with the 49ers before being released in August.
Nkemdiche last played for the Edmonton Elks in the Canadian Football League in 2024.
