One day, St. Charles North graduate Tyler Nubin knew he was going to come back here. And if he made his NFL dreams come true, he already had an idea in mind of how he would give back.
And now, as Nubin gets ready for his second season as a starting safety for the New York Giants, that opportunity is a reality with a three-day football camp he will be hosting at his alma mater.
“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” Nubin said. “One of the first things I thought about when I got to the NFL was that I wanted to come back home.
“We definitely didn’t get anything like this when I was a kid. I think it could grow into something really big and impactful for a lot of the kids in our area.”
Nubin will be back at St. Charles North, hosting a youth camp on Thursday and Friday. He will be hosting an elite skills camp for high school players on Saturday that he hopes grows in the future.
Even though Nubin has a little break before training camp, he’s still very busy. In addition to navigating his first NFL season, he also recently married his wife, Farah.
The fact he’s willing to do all this isn’t surprising North Stars coach Rob Pomazak, however.
“To make this a priority to come back, it speaks volumes about Tyler,” Pomazak said. “He always talks about legacy. I’m really trying to create a fun environment for a star player like he is.
“It is surreal. He’s made it. How often do you get a professional athlete coming back to teach the game while they’re still playing?”
H. Rick Bamman / Courier-News
St. Charles North’s Tyler Nubin leaps for a pass and scores a touchdown against Rolling Meadows in a Class 7A second-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
Pomazak said he handled most of the logistics for the youth camps Thursday and Friday so that Nubin can concentrate more of his energy on Saturday’s elite skills camp.
“His real passion is the elite skills camp,” Pomazak said. “We’re looking for serious players. That is his baby and we’re going to do a lot of things.
“There will be an NFL defensive back being hands on. He wants to build a brand.”
Nubin still feels like the Chicago area is an under-recruited area for college football. He hopes hosting a camp like this and highlighting some of the area’s top players can provide a showcase.
“People don’t know there are ballers here,” Nubin said. “I want to give the kids a leg up. I want to see all the kids in the area get a chance.
H. Rick Bamman / The Courier-News
St. Charles North’s Tyler Nubin throws a touchdown pass against Rolling Meadows in a Class 7A second-round playoff game on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
“I had a lot of friends growing up that were under recruited. They definitely should have been higher ranked than they were. I want people to be recognized.”
Nubin will be bringing many of his high school teammates along for the ride this weekend as well. He said when he gets together with his old friends, “they still treat me like Ty.”
Former teammate Peyton Brown can attest to that.
“It’s the same old guys from elementary school,” Brown said. “We talk to each other all the time. It’s a great relationship. We were in Miami for his draft night, and it was emotional for all of us.
“We’ve all been there for each other since we were kids. Everyone was so happy for him and his family. It’s so crazy — St. Charles North to the New York Giants.”
Jon Langham / The Courier-News
St. Charles North’s Tyler Nubin (27) sheds a tackle against Glenbard East during a game on on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017. (Jon Langham / The Beacon-News)
Brown pointed out that Nubin has been aiming to put together a camp like this for years.
“I think this has been a long time in the works,” Brown said. “Even when he was at Minnesota, he wanted to do this. I’m glad he’s finally getting the chance to do it.”
For Nubin, it will be the realization of yet another longtime dream.
“I want to touch as many lives as I can,” Nubin said. “I want everybody to get better and learn something. I don’t think it’s really hit me for real, the actual impact.
“I’m still Tyler Nubin. I’ve always been humble.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
Originally Published: June 18, 2025 at 11:01 AM CDT