Isaiah Nwokobia
Isaiah Nwokobia  S  SMU | NFL Draft 2026 Souting Report - Portrait Image
Isaiah Nwokobia
Height
6-1
Weight
193
College
SMU
Position
S
Class
Junior
Home town
Dallas, TX
84.0/100
Player Rating
15
PositionRank (DB)
4.48
FortyYD Time
Interceptions
3
Interception YDS
13
Passes Defensed
3
Tackles
100
Sol tackles
53

Isaiah Nwokobia S SMU | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Isaiah Nwokobia S SMU
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety
Last Updated: 05/28/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 4.48 seconds (79%*)
Age: 22.5 DOB: 12/16/2002
Measurables:
Height: 6-1 (61%*) Weight: 193 (17%*)
Forty: 4.48 (O) (79%*)
0% 100%
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other (HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
ROLE: Zone Slot/Nickel Safety
Last Updated: 05/28/2025
Draft Year: 2026
40 time: 4.48 seconds (79%*)
Age: 22.5 DOB: 12/16/2002
Measurables:
0% 100%
Height: 6-1 (61%*) Weight: 193 (17%*)
Forty: 4.48 (O) (79%*)
(C) - NFL Combine (P) - Pro Day (O) - Other
(HS) -Estimated from High School Combine
For an explanation of how the (HS) data is calculated see this article
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
Overall Rating: 84.0 / 100
Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced
Offense Rating:
77%
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects.
QB Rating When targeted: 59.4
Tackling:
82%
Run Defense:
84%
Coverage:
91%
Zone:
78%
Man/Press:
90%
DRAFT PROJECTION: 3rd
Overall Rank: #99 Position rank: #15
College Games: 39 College Snaps: 1761
Grade: 3 ESPN  Stars 3 ESPN  Stars ESPN RATING: 78/100
Grade: 247 Sports 3  Stars 247 Sports 88 Stars 247 RATING: 88/100
Grade: 3 Stars 3 Stars RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
Player Comparison* (Similarity level)
Kerby Joseph - Illinois
90%
Jordan Battle - Alabama
87%
Jevon Holland - Oregon
85%
Draft Profile: Bio
Isaiah Nwokobia arrived at SMU as a three-star recruit from Skyline High School, where he helped guide his team to the second round of the 6A Division 1 UIL State playoffs while fielding offers from powerhouse programs across the country including Texas, Oregon, and Oklahoma State. Despite the attention from major programs, Nwokobia chose to stay home and has rewarded SMU's faith with exceptional production across four seasons on the Hilltop.

The safety's collegiate journey has been marked by steady ascension and clutch performances in critical moments. After redshirting in 2022 due to injury, Nwokobia burst onto the scene as a sophomore in 2023, becoming the first defensive player ever to win AAC Championship MVP honors while leading the conference with two defensive touchdowns and finishing fourth in interceptions. His junior campaign in 2024 elevated him to national recognition, earning All-ACC First Team honors and AP All-ACC Second Team selection while anchoring a defense that propelled SMU to their first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. Across 39 career games with 1,761 defensive snaps, Nwokobia has accumulated impressive statistics including seven career interceptions and nine pass breakups.

is junior season saw him reach triple-digit tackles while maintaining elite coverage numbers, recording three interceptions and six pass breakups despite teams increasingly avoiding his side of the field. The East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 List selection has consistently delivered in high-pressure situations, including a crucial overtime performance against Duke with 13 tackles and a game-changing interception against Boston College that helped secure SMU's playoff berth.
Scouting Report: Strengths
  • Exceptional pre-snap recognition allows him to diagnose plays before they develop, consistently putting himself in advantageous positions.
  • Violent and decisive run defender who attacks downhill with bad intentions, never allowing runners to build momentum.
  • Natural ball hawking ability with sticky hands that pluck passes at their highest point, turning 50-50 balls into turnovers.
  • Outstanding zone coverage instincts enable him to jump routes and break on balls with impressive anticipation and timing.
  • Physical press coverage specialist who uses his frame to disrupt receivers at the line and knock them off timing.
  • Reliable tackler in tight spaces who wraps up effectively and rarely allows broken tackles when arriving with proper angles.
  • Veteran leadership presence who commands respect in the secondary and consistently communicates coverages to teammates around him.
  • High-effort player who maximizes his athletic tools through superior preparation and relentless motor that never stops running to the ball.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
  • Limited recovery speed in deep coverage situations makes him vulnerable to double moves and vertical routes when isolated.
  • Hip stiffness prevents smooth transitions when changing directions, particularly problematic when covering crossing routes and comeback patterns.
  • Marginal long speed creates range limitations as a single-high safety, struggling to cover sideline-to-sideline in two-deep looks.
  • Inconsistent tackling technique in space leads to missed opportunities when coming downhill from distance at awkward angles.
  • Man coverage struggles against quicker slot receivers and tight ends who can create separation through route nuances.
Scouting Report: Summary
The transition to the next level will test whether Nwokobia's exceptional instincts can overcome his physical limitations against elite NFL talent. His ability to diagnose plays and create turnovers in zone coverage translates beautifully to the next level, particularly in defensive systems that emphasize communication and ball production. However, the same hip stiffness and recovery speed issues that occasionally surfaced against college competition will become magnified when facing NFL receivers who can exploit every technical flaw with precision route-running and deceptive releases.

Nwokobia's most immediate value comes in run support and underneath coverage responsibilities, where his aggressive downhill style and sure tackling create immediate impact. His football intelligence allows him to thrive in complex defensive packages, yet the same schemes that maximize his zone coverage prowess may expose his struggles in man-to-man situations. The reality is that while his ball skills and anticipation give him game-changing potential on any given snap, his athletic profile limits how extensively teams can deploy him without creating vulnerabilities elsewhere.

Finding the right role becomes crucial for Nwokobia's NFL success, as his ceiling hinges entirely on defensive coordinators understanding both his strengths and constraints. His veteran leadership and turnover production offer genuine value, but only when paired with complementary pieces that can cover his range limitations. The difference between Nwokobia becoming a reliable contributor versus a situational player depends largely on whether teams can creatively utilize his unique blend of football acumen and physical restrictions without asking him to be something he simply cannot become.

How other scouting services rate Isaiah Nwokobia (Overall Rank)

All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
98.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
19.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance. For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.

*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.