#37

Phalen Sanford

DB · Nebraska · Sr. · #37

Nebraska 2023 alumnus

This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Phalen Sanford

DB · Nebraska · Sr · #37

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

Recruit

—

No recruit profile

CFB

College

Nebraska

2021–2023

NFL

NFL Draft

—

Not drafted

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2023

3 coaches

2021

Scott Frost

Nebraska

2022

Mickey Joseph

Nebraska

era →

2023

Matt Rhule

Nebraska

era →

Played under 3 different head coaches: Scott Frost, Mickey Joseph, and Matt Rhule. Multi-era developmental context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021Nebraska3-9HC: Scott Frost · Run-leaning

2022Nebraska4-8HC: Mickey Joseph · Run-leaning

2023Nebraska5-7HC: Matt Rhule · Run-heavy, slow tempo

Career stats

Season	Team
2023	Nebraska	40	22	0.5	2	--	--
2022	Nebraska	12	8	0.0	--	--	--
2021	Nebraska	3	2	0.0	--	--	--
Career		55	32	0.5	2	--	--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 6 · 2023

W 20–7

at Illinois

6 TOT · 3 SOLO

How he plays

Play style

Moves between deep coverage and the slot.

CFB Index positional classification

DNA match

Player DNA

Hybrid Nickel

Moves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB.

His 2023 production profile sits closest to Matthew Littlejohn’s 2023 season.

Matthew Littlejohn

92%match

California · 2023

Isaiah Taylor

Arizona · 2022

88%

Dashaun Jerkins

Vanderbilt · 2021

87%

Cameron Solomon

Louisiana · 2021

86%

Nick Andersen

Wake Forest · 2021

86%

Matches Matthew on

Class year

Height

PD rate

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Jalen Mergerson's junior season at Air Force (2023).

Jalen Mergerson

91%match

Air Force · 2023

Bryquice Brown

Georgia State · 2022

89%

Dylan Early

New Mexico State · 2023

88%

Caleb Spann

Central Michigan · 2023

88%

Kendrick Simpkins

Western Kentucky · 2022

All-Conference USA

88%

Matches Jalen on

Class year

PD rate

Tackle volume