At this time last year, Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa was the new wide-eyed baby face on the team.
One of Iowa’s highest-ranked recruits in recent years, Nwankpa entered Iowa City with a star-like aura around his name. This was the future of the Hawkeyes’ secondary. This was the man to lead the new guard of Iowa’s defense.
While he didn’t play a ton as a freshman, Nwankpa was impressive when given his chance. During his lone start in the Music City Bowl, Nwankpa recorded eight tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown. It was a star-making performance and just a taste of what fans could get from Xavier in 2023.
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Iowa’s defense was one of the best in the nation in 2022, lead by various experienced stars. Now, those stars are heading to the NFL. In the secondary specifically, the Hawkeyes lose two leaders in Riley Moss and Kaevon Merriweather.
Nwankpa detailed recently that his goal for this year is to transition from a baby-faced youngster to a true leader.
“Really trying to lead, help all the young guys. Get to the level that we need to be at as a defense just to keep what we’ve been doing,” Nwankpa said.
Of course, Nwankpa is doing his part this offseason to improve his overall game. The Pleasant Hill, Iowa, native is busting his backside to become the player he knows he can be.
True to the Iowa mentality, though, it is not just about one player. Everyone holds not only themselves, but their teammates around them to a high standard. It’s a true team effort, a brotherhood of Black and Gold lifting each other up.
While Nwankpa is only entering his sophomore season, it’s clear that he just gets it. He’s played with players like Moss and Merriweather who know what it takes to win in the Big Ten. He’s learned from a defensive coordinator in Phil Parker who knows the results that a true 11-man defense yields.
Nwankpa may not have played a ton his freshman year, but early in the offseason, that year in Iowa City has done wonders. He may be young, but Xavier Nwankpa is ready to lead a new generation of Iowa football.
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