One of the top names already getting attention for the 2024 NFL Draft is Minnesota Golden Gophers safety Tyler Nubin.
The fifth-year senior announced in December that he was returning for his final year of eligibility, and if the early projections are accurate it could pay off big time as he could hear his name called in the first round of the NFL Draft. Dane Brugler, the top draft analyst for The Athletic, has Nubin among the players going in the first round of his way-too-early 2024 mock draft (subscription required).
“Nubin would have been a Day 2 pick had he declared for the 2023 draft, but he elected to return to Minnesota for his senior year. With his athleticism and opportunistic ball skills, he has NFL starting ability,” Brugler wrote, predicting Nubin as the 32nd overall pick.
Nubin was second team All-Big Ten in 2022 after finishing with 55 tackles and a team-leading four interceptions, and according to Pro Football Focus he was the best safety in the country in terms of completion percentage allowed in his coverage.
Lowest completion rate allowed among Safeties last season:
🐿 Tyler Nubin – 35% pic.twitter.com/s5AbUV8Irg
— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 19, 2023
His presence in the secondary will be huge as the Gophers have to replace four starters on defense, including safety Jordan Howden, cornerback Terell Smith, linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin and defensive end Thomas Rush.
Howden was drafted in the fifth round by the New Orleans Saints and the Smith went 19 picks later (also in the fifth round) to the Chicago Bears. The other Gopher drafted over the weekend was center John Michael Schmitz, who went to the New York Giants in the second round.
Five other Gophers signed with NFL teams as undrafted free agents.
- Mohamed Ibrahim, RB (Detroit Lions)
- Tanner Morgan, QB (Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Thomas Rush, DL (Tennessee Titans)
- Mariano Sori-Marin, LB (San Francisco 49ers)
- Chuck Giliago, OG (Green Bay Packers)
