#1 Xavier Nwankpa Season 2023-24

2024 Honors - - Academic All-Big Ten... Athlon preseason third-team All-Big Ten... 2024 - - Played in all 12 games and started at strong safety in nine games, marking his 22nd career start... has 37 tackles (25 solo, 12 assists) on the season... recorded a career-high 10 tackles (career-high seven solo, career-high three assists) in 40-16 win over Washington... collected seven tackles (five solo, two assists) in 20-32 loss at Michigan State... recorded five tackles (two solo, career-high three assists) in 7-35 loss at #3/3 Ohio State... recorded four solo tackles in 13-10 win over Nebraska... collected three tackles (two solo, one assist) in 17-20 loss at UCLA...  recorded two solo tackles as defense allowed just 189 yards in season-opening 40-0 shutout of Illinois State... collected two tackles in 42-10 win over Wisconsin (two solo), in 38-21 win over Troy (one solo, one assist) and in 31-14 win at Minnesota (two assists).

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… tallied a season-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 season-high 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.