#45

Cole Nilles

LB · Texas State · So. · #45

Returning to Texas State for 2026
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Cole Nilles

LB · Texas State · So · #45

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
No recruit profile
CFB
College
Texas State
2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2025Texas State7-6HC: G.J. Kinne · Run-heavy

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Texas State27163.00.01----
Career27163.00.01----

How he plays

Play style

Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Texas State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Linebacker · Texas State

Returning around him

  • 93% of 2024 offensive production back (Strong continuity)
  • Transfer portal: -4 net (17 in / 21 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Texas State · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #76 · 2026 recruiting class #74

DNA match

Player DNA

Sideline-to-Sideline

Ranges from hash to hash and makes his own tackles.

LB

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Sam Greene’s 2025 season.

Sam Greene

64%match

Kentucky · 2025

NFL Rd 4
#2

Latreveon McCutchin

Houston · 2025

64%
#3

Cooper McDonald

San Diego State · 2022

62%
#4

Scotty Humpich

Purdue · 2022

62%
#5

Teitum Tuioti

Oregon · 2023

60%

Matches Sam on

TFL rate
Weight

Differs from Sam on

Hurry rate (lower)
Height (higher)
Sack rate (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a freshman, his production profile tracks closest to Chance Main's freshman season at Colorado (2022).

Chance Main

84%match

Colorado · 2022

#2

Cael Brezina

Iowa State · 2024

78%
#3

Lakota Dippre

Charlotte · 2024

78%
#4

Beau Goodwin

Iowa State · 2024

77%
#5

Rylan Barnes

Iowa State · 2024

72%

Matches Chance on

Class year
TFL rate
Solo tackle rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #10292

Final rank
#11454
Avg #11095.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #10292 this season.