MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - AUGUST 31: Tyler Nubin #27 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers celebrates his interception against the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the first half at Huntington Bank Stadium on August 31, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Golden Gophers defeated the Cornhuskers 13-10. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

Tyler Nubin Became Consistent

April 20, 2024 | Daniel Kelly | Articles

Reading Time: 3 minutes

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – NOVEMBER 04: Tyler Nubin #27 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers competes against the Illinois Fighting Illini in the second half at Huntington Bank Stadium on November 04, 2023 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Fighting Illini defeated the Golden Gophers 27-26. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)

The biggest knock I had on Minnesota Gophers’ safety Tyler Nubin on four games during the study of his 2022 game film was inconsistency.

He cleaned that up in 2023.

Nubin was consistently in position in these four games ⎯both in pass and run support situations. I didn’t say he was a playmaker.

This Gophers’ safety also showed enough ‘want’ to pique my interest in him as a prospect.

Speed concern

The position of safety is about speed and want. It’s about getting in position in time to make a difference.

‘Want’ is not the issue with Nubin.

His playing speed is an issue. He has decent speed. I didn’t say it was good or great.

Nubin shows he can keep up in man coverage with tight ends and get around well between the hashes. It is the deep halves that are the main concern. One of the primary responsibilities of a safety is providing ‘help over the top’ to cornerbacks in the deep ‘halves’ of the field. In other words, the half of the field they are responsible for in the pass coverage.

Nubin wasn’t able to get into position in time to make a play on the ball in these situations.

Compounding the speed concern:

Nubin didn’t run the 40-yard-dash at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine
His pro day 40-time was not released.

Nubin was a 4.74 out of high school (espn.com).

Knee injury

My concerns about his playing speed existed before Nubin decided to get knee surgery at the end of this past season.

“I got a meniscectomy after the regular season and it was my lateral meniscus in my right knee,” Nubin detailed in an article from 247Sports. “I kind of accelerated the recovery process in getting ready for the draft process because I wanted to do everything at the NFL Combine.”

“It kind of bit me in the butt a little bit as I was dealing with some residual stuff from that, Nubin continued. “Tendinitis in my knee and just little stuff like that. I wasn’t fully 100% at the combine, so I only did some things…and even in the last week or two, I’ve been getting my knee back. But I feel about 90% healthy right now.”

Playing the run

I gauge safeties by how they play the run.

That’s where the ‘want’ really shows up on game film and it’s ‘want’ that moves the meter.

Nubin was fairly aggressive coming up and getting involved in run stops or getting outside by the sidelines to force ball carriers or receivers out of bounds. Stopping the run was important to him.

That’s a good sign.

Can a team win with Nubin?

That’s what all of this comes down to ⎯and the answer is yes.

I do not see him as a first-round talent like some draft platforms do, but I do see him as being a solid starting safety in the NFL.

However, his average playing speed and the knee surgery situation do factor in. Those things have to be accounted for to come up with a proper valuation that frames the expectations properly.

#27 Tyler Nubin 6-foot-2, 210 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2024 NFL Draft Grade: Third-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 21.5% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 20, 2024 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2023 game film reviewed: Michigan State, North Carolina, Nebraska, and Michigan (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Pro Football Focus Profile

2023 stats: 53 tackles, 34 solo, 19 assists, 4 passes defended, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 5 interceptions

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Tough muscular prospect with average range and one-gear speed. In pass coverage showed quick reactions and he took good angles. Fluid-looking moving around. Good understanding of the position. Technically solid. No burst. More of an after-the-fact defender in coverage who occasionally is at the right place at the right time and makes a play on the ball. Above average straight-line uninterrupted blitzes. Dependable run support. Shows emotion at times.

Final words

Nubin plays smart and he’s got enough to him to make a difference.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.