John Nestor
John Nestor
Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away. Two head coaches in three seasons, at two different programs. One game to point at: 8 tackles, 1 TFL against Oregon — Week 12, 2025.
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- positional archetype classification
- head-coach lineage
- game log
Career Arc
Coaching Lineage · 2023–2025
1 coachPlayed his entire career under P.J. Fleck.
2025 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
Splits & context
Supporting Cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
P.J. Fleck
Awards
Player Standing · 17 rungs
Tier 2 · StarterR05 · Part-time starter
Part-time starter. Tackle volume for the position in part-time-starter range.
Career stats
How he plays
Play style
Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Minnesota
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive back · Minnesota
Returning around him
- 1 Minnesota player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -1 net (19 in / 20 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Minnesota · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #41 · 2026 recruiting class #28
DNA match
Player DNA
Rover
Hits like a linebacker and still takes the ball away.
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Giovanni Biggers’s 2021 season.
Matches Giovanni on
Differs from Giovanni on
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Randon Fontenette's junior season at Vanderbilt (2025).
Matches Randon on
Background
PRONUNCIATION Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. HONORS: Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Dec. 1, 2025) Bednarik Award Player of the Week (Dec. 2, 2025) OVERVIEW: Enrolled at Minnesota in June 2025 • spent the previous two seasons (2023-24) at Iowa. 2025: Played in 11 games • made 50...