Tyler Nubin: 'A lot of how I approach the game came from Antoine Winfield Jr.'
Gophers standout safety Tyler Nubin is looking to continue to follow in former Gopher safety Antoine Winfield Jr.'s footsteps.
Nubin, a first-team All-American in 2023, is considered one of the best safeties in this year's draft, if not the best. Many mock drafts have Nubin going early in the second-round of the draft.
Winfield was taken with the 45th pick in the 2020 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a stellar career at the U.
Nov 9, 2019; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers defensive back Antoine Winfield Jr. (11) intercepts a pass intended for Minnesota Golden Gophers wide receiver Tyler Johnson (6) in the first quarter at TCF Bank Stadium.
© Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
"He definitely set the standard," Nubin told assembled media Thursday at the NFL Combine. "Honestly, a lot of my game, a lot of how I approach the game, came from Antoine Winfield Jr."
Nubin was a redshirt freshman during Winfield's senior season at the U.
"Just being able to see how he carried himself as a pro in the building, before he was a pro," continued Nubin. "How he watched film. How he attacked practice. His just pure intensity and love and passion for the game that's what I really admired when I first got to Minnesota. I saw how that translated onto the field into how he played. Every single day I try to emulate that."
After going through the interview portion of the combine Thursday, Nubin is set to take part in the defensive back drills Friday.
Nubin totaled 53 tackles and five interceptions in 2023, finishing his Gophers career with 207 total tackles, two sacks, 13 interceptions and three forced fumbles. At 90.1 Nubin had the best coverage grade in the country in 2023 according to PFF.
