IOWA CITY — After going undrafted, Iowa defensive back Xavier Nwankpa is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Nwankpa made 52 appearances in his Hawkeye career, including 36 starts.
A highly touted recruit out of Southeast Polk High School, Nwankpa elected to play for his home state, marking a recruiting win for the Hawkeyes. He arrived at Iowa surrounded by a lot of hype.
It took some time for Nwankpa's talent to consistently show. His sophomore and junior seasons at Iowa were not bad. They just weren't especially memorable.
But in his final ride with the Hawkeyes, Nwankpa had a breakout senior season. He moved from strong safety to free safety and had the best campaign of his college career, logging 76 tackles, two forced fumbles and one interception. Nwankpa, who earned third-team All-Big Ten honors by coaches, finally looked more like the playmaker he was expected to be when he committed to Iowa.
Iowa's track record of producing NFL-ready defensive players is no secret, and Nwankpa had the benefit of learning under guru Phil Parker for several years.
Black & Gold turned Red & Gold@xaviernwankpa01 ➡️ @Chiefs pic.twitter.com/etMLpdbeqB
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) April 26, 2026
Down safety with ideal size, length and athleticism. Nwankpa checks physical and athletic boxes but is missing a standout element in his play. A lack of play recognition and instincts make him a reactive defender in coverage. He’s unable to close quickly enough to make plays on the ball. As a run defender, poor pursuit angles and inconsistencies with tackle execution will be concerning for NFL evaluators. His traits and special-teams potential will help, but Nwankpa faces an uphill battle to make a roster.
Size, length and athleticism for alignment versatility.
Swoops down and gobbles up short throws in the alley.
Capable of matching up on both “Y” and “F” tight ends.
Pursuit range and length to erase mistakes up front.
Punt-cover talent drew the attention of opposing return units.
Play strength doesn’t match impressive measurables.
Missing a consistent cinch-up when wrapping runners.
5.69: Candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa defensive back Xavier Nwankpa to sign with Kansas City Chiefs