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Xavier Nwankpa credits his mother for helping him develop an ultra-competitive spirit that has driven him to be one of the best high school football players in the country. Whether it was a game of "HORSE" on their driveway or a one-on-one hockey match, Nwankpa’s mother, Amy Kelce, didn’t let her son win. Nwankpa said he had to earn it. "He would come back with a vengeance on mom," Kelce told the Des Moines Register. "Even before he could walk, he was trying to run. He is a perfectionist." Growing up, Nwankpa was a standout in Southeast Polk youth baseball, basketball, football and track programs. Southeast Polk football coach Brad Zelenovich said he was so aware of Nwankpa’s talent that he made him manager of the football team in seventh grade, so he’d be used to the program. Kelce played college softball at William Penn. Frank Nwankpa, Xavier’s father, still holds seven track and field records at Iowa State. Nwankpa plans on majoring in kinesiology in college.

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There were several plays, particularly in the second half, where Xavier Nwankpa felt like he and his teammates on the Iowa defense were playing

Xavier Nwankpa(1)

Hawkeye Report Football

Hawkeye Report

Xavier Nwankpa talks Iowa defense

It's rare when the Iowa defense struggles to stop the run. One of those rare days happened on Saturday as the Oregon running backs ran over, around

Xavier Nwankpa (2)

Iowa defense talks run stop struggles

It's official, the Doughboyz are back. Even if Iowa linebackers coach Seth Wallace might not say it official, after creating multiple turnovers in

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Iowa defensive backs have productive day

While the Iowa football roster isn't generally hit all that hard by the transfer portal, it's pretty natural that from time to time a teammates might

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Iowa defensive backs discuss former teammate on the Gophers

Xavier Nwankpa played perhaps the most complete game of his Iowa career on Saturday. For that he was rewarded with being named the Big Ten Defensive

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Xavier Nwankpa named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

When Iowa faces UMass on Saturday afternoon, Xavier Nwankpa will see a familiar face on the other sideline. Back when he was one of the most prized

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Xavier Nwankpa familiar with UMass coach

Powerade is returning to the NIL space for its third consecutive year ahead of the 2025 season. The sports drink has inked NIL agreements with LSU

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On3 NIL

Powerade signs NIL deals with LSU's Garrett Nussmeier, Arizona State's Sam Leavitt and more

The countdown to kickoff of the 2025 Iowa football season continues with a return of the 3-2-1. In this edition we look at three players who are

Iowa Starters

3-2-1: Iowa players stepping up and breaking out

For the first three years of his Iowa career, Xavier Nwankpa was the Hawkeyes strong safety. While he played well there, in his heart he knew that

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Xavier Nwankpa feels at home at free safety

While he was not in uniform on Saturday when the Iowa football team wrapped up spring practice, it sure feels like Xavier Nwankpa has found himself a

Xavier Newankpa

Xavier Nwankpa finds new home at free safety?

If you looked around a various mock drafts either before or during the college football season, you would probably see the name of Xavier Nwankpa.

Xavier Nwankpa returning for improvement on several fronts

It there is one thing that Iowa fans can usually count on every Saturday it's rock solid defense. But, that was lacking on Saturday in the 32-20 loss

Jay Higgins(4)

Uncharacteristic performance does in Iowa defense

There are plenty of keys in this game against Ohio State for the Iowa defense. Chief among them is tackling. It's an area that Xavier Nwankpa says he

Xavier Nwankpa focused on better tackling

When he was a kid, Xavier Nwankpa grew up watching Iowa State football. His father was a track athlete for the Cyclones, so it was natural that his

Xavier Nwankpa facing familiar foes

The 2024 Iowa football season is nearly upon us. We continue our previews of the upcoming season by taking a little different angle. This time we

Five Iowa football players stepping up in 2024

Iowa safety Xavier Nwankpa was banged up and left the Hawkeyes’ win in the fourth quarter Saturday, but head coach Kirk Ferentz didn't seem too

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Kirk Ferentz provides update on Xavier Nwankpa, others after Week 1

After getting his first start in the bowl game and scoring on a pick six, safety Xavier Nwankpa is ready to take the next step as a sophomore.  At

Xavier Nwankpa ready for the next step

Two weeks of practices at the Under Armour All-America Game and the All-American Bowl gave On3 the chance to see close to 200 of the nation's top

Rivals Football Recruiting

Rivals

Emptying the All-American games notebook: Defense

The last two weeks have been an exciting time for college football fans. From a plethora of bowl games to the College Football Playoffs to high

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On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rankings: Top classes after All-American Bowl

The All-American Bowl (formerly known as the U.S. Army All-American Bowl) is set to be played Saturday in San Antonio at the Alamodome at 1:00 p.m.

2022 All-American Bowl Roster Breakdown

San Antonio, Texas – The All-American Bowl annually brings together more than 90 of the most talented seniors in high school football. With more than

All-American Bowl: These players have impressed with sheer effort

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The All-American Bowl is at 1 p.m. ET Saturday at the Alamodome. Around 100 of the nation’s top recruits are in attendance and

All-American Bowl: Day 2 practice updates

Kirk Ferentz and the Iowa Hawkeyes held off Notre Dame and Ohio State to land Xavier Nwankpa, the no. 34 prospect in the On3 Consensus.   The

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Iowa Hawkeyes Football Recruiting

New Iowa commit Xavier Nwankpa is an 'extremely gifted' player

Altoona (Iowa) Southeast Polk safety Xavier Nwankpa became one of the biggest commits in program history when he publicly pledged to Iowa on

Elite safety Xavier Nwankpa explains his decision to commit to Iowa

COLUMBUS — The long battle between Ohio State and Iowa for Xavier Nwankpa is over.  The Buckeyes came up short.  The five-star safety from Southeast

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Lettermen Row Football Recruiting

Lettermen Row

Long-time Ohio State target Xavier Nwankpa picks Iowa

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