Xavier Nwankpa

● Good-looking frame with developed bulk, broad chest and thick lower half ● Adequate speed, hip action and overall range 607 Back to table of contents -- 611 of 629 -- ● Trusts quarterback’s eyes to lead him to the football ● Matches up well against big slots and tight ends working the seam ● Controlled downhill angles in run game while tackling through ball carrier ● Physical blowing through half-hearted blocks ● Wasn’t asked to blitz often but was effective (see final drive of 2025 Penn State tape) ● Confident kid who developed his work ethic (NFL scout: “Got humbled early in his career and gradually grew to become accountable.”) ● Played on punt coverages all four seasons (466 career special teams snaps)

● Relatively shorter arms and smaller hands for a player with his frame ● Not overly explosive in movements ● Uneven reaction quickness and doesn’t have the burst to make up for a late start ● Managed just four pass breakups and three interceptions over 36 career starts ● High tackler and slides off the ball carrier when not squared up (see 2025 Rutgers and Nebraska tapes) ● Middling play strength; struggles punching himself off blockers

A three-year starter at Iowa, Nwankpa lined up at free safety in defensive coordinator Phil Parker’s scheme. Highly recruited out of high school, he had his pick of almost any college in the country before choosing his home-state Hawkeyes. He picked off a pass in his first career start but was an uneven player and didn’t consistently live up to the recruiting hype. Nwankpa is a fluid and rangy mover in the back end, with enough closing speed to drive on the ball. He reads the quarterback well but often at the expense of his spatial awareness. His below-average ball production reflects his struggles to anticipate developing routes around him. He is a competitive tackler and has the trigger to read and go in the alley. Overall, Nwankpa is a solid size-speed athlete, but his marginal instincts — especially in zone coverage — lower his NFL ceiling. His ability to match up in man and contribute on special teams might keep him on an NFL roster.