Xavier Nwankpa

2023 Honors – – Academic All-Big Ten… Dean’s List student (2023 fall)… 2023 – – Started at strong safety in 12 games, playing in all 14… recorded 42 tackles (27 solo, 15 assists), including two tackles for a loss of one yard and one QB sack, two pass break-ups, two QB pressures, and one interception on the season… matched a career-high eight tackles (seven solo, one assist), including one tackle for a loss of one yard, and one pass break-up in 26-16 win vs. Michigan State… recorded six tackles (four solo, two assists) in 20-14 win vs. Purdue… had five tackles, two solo, three assists) in 15-6 win at Wisconsin… collected five tackles (four solo, one assist) in 31-0 loss at Penn State… had five tackles (three solo, two assists), including one QB sack, in 10-7 win at Northwestern… had three tackles (one solo, two assists) in 12-10 loss vs. Minnesota… had two tackles (one solo, one assist) and one interception in season-opening 24-14 win over Utah State… recorded two solo tackles and one QB pressure in 13-10 win at Nebraska… letterwinner.

2022 Honors – – Team Hustle Award, special teams… 2022 – – Played in all 13 games, starting at strong safety in 21-0 Music City Bowl win over Kentucky… totaled 12 tackles (11 solo, 1 assist), one interception for 52 yards and a touchdown, and one pass breakup… posted career-best eight tackles in 21-0 Music City Bowl win over Kentucky in first career start (seven solo, one assist)… first career interception vs. Kentucky resulted in 52-yard touchdown return… also recorded one pass break-up… One of eight true freshmen to see game action… letterwinner.

High school honors – – Named Adidas All-American and MaxPreps Iowa Player of the Year as a senior… earned Elite All-State honors as a senior… first-team all-conference and all-state as a sophomore, junior and senior… honorable mention all-conference as a freshman… earned academic recognition all four years… Career – – Four-year football letterman as defensive back… prep team won state championships as a senior after also reaching state championship game as a junior… state qualifier as a sophomore after reaching state semifinals as a freshman… prep team posted four-year record of 35-10, with just two losses over final two seasons… recorded 26 tackles and four interceptions as a senior, with 845 all-purpose yards… 41 tackles as a junior, with six interceptions and two touchdowns, and 794 all-purpose yards… 51.5 tackles as a sophomore, with three interceptions and one touchdown, with 494 all-purpose yards… 20 tackles to go with three interceptions and one touchdown return as a freshman… team captain as a junior and senior… also competed in track and baseball as a prep.

Personal – – Born 12/8/2003… sport and recreation management major…parents are Amy Erickson and Frank Nwankpa… high school coach was Brad Zelenovich.

2022

defensive
TFL	QB HUR	TOT	TD	PD	SACKS	SOLO
0.0	0.0	4.0	1.0	1.0	0.0	4.0

interceptions
TD	AVG	YDS	INT
1.0	52.0	52.0	1.0