{"id":357679,"date":"2025-09-10T20:10:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T20:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/357679\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T20:10:12","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T20:10:12","slug":"umn-gophers-defensive-back-was-a-hawkeye","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/357679\/","title":{"rendered":"UMN Gophers defensive back was a Hawkeye"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Gophers offered a scholarship to Chicago cornerback John Nestor<\/a> in February 2022, but the three-star recruit committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes two months later.<\/p>\n

Like being allergic to a bee sting; it hurt immediately, then swelled.<\/p>\n

The U prides itself on stacking recruiting wins in the Chicagoland area. But the exacerbating factor was Nestor picked the Gophers\u2019 bitter rival.<\/p>\n

Three years later, Nestor transferred to the Gophers after spring practices, earned a starting spot in fall camp and made two interceptions \u2014 returning one for a touchdown \u2014 in a 66-0 win over Northwestern State on Saturday.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIf there is an opportunity for you to rekindle that flame, you do,\u201d Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck said. \u201cI thought that our staff did a really good job of that when recruiting John. Ultimately (we) didn\u2019t get him initially, but we had a really good relationship built that when he went in the portal and he has three, four schools, you can be right in the mix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are eight things to know about Nestor:<\/p>\n

Second chance<\/p>\n

Gophers defensive coordinator Dany Collins, who attended nearby Chicago high school St. Rita, was a primary, initial recruiter of Nestor.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew what type of person he was and the type of fit,\u201d Collins said about re-recruiting him again this spring. \u201cIt all goes back to, again, the fit in this program. Being able to have that fit and then come right in.\u201d<\/p>\n

On losing Nestor originally, Collins said those are the breaks of recruiting, and they respected his decision. Now the 6-foot-1, 205-pounder has two years of eligibility remaining for the U.<\/p>\n

Kingsbury connection<\/p>\n

When Nestor visited the Gophers last spring, his host was linebacker Matt Kingsbury, who also attended St. Rita. The joy was evident on Nestor\u2019s face when Kingsbury was talking to media members about Kingsbury\u2019s two fumble recoveries \u2014 with one returned 25 yards for a TD \u2014 against Northwestern State.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Collins) went to a high school that is about 15 minutes from where I grew up,\u201d Nestor said. \u201cSame high schools as Kings \u2014 a rivalry \u2014 but we won\u2019t talk about that right now. Just joking.\u201d<\/p>\n

First try<\/p>\n

As a true freshman for the Hawkeyes, Nestor played immediately on special teams, and comparisons were made to him possibly becoming Riley Moss 2.0, an all-Big Ten cornerback now with the Denver Broncos.<\/p>\n

But his sophomore year didn\u2019t go well. He played 121 snaps on defense, allowing five receptions and one touchdown on five targets, along with three missed tackles in a 32-20 loss to Michigan State.<\/p>\n

He would play only 29 defensive snaps over the final six games before going into the portal.<\/p>\n

\"IllinoisIllinois State wide receiver Braden Contreras (9) recovers a fumbled punt in front of Iowa defensive back John Nestor (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall)
\nMan of faith<\/p>\n

The first question Nestor faced from reporters Saturday was about his 29-yard pick-six on the opening play from scrimmage against the Demons.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore I start, I just want to give all glory to God,\u201d Nestor said from the podium at Huntington Bank Stadium. \u201cHe is my savior. He is my Lord, and I put him first throughout everything I do every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nestor, who attended Marist High School, a private Catholic prep school in Chicago, then gave a detailed answer on the big play that set the tone in the blowout.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were in Cover 3,\u201d Nestor said. \u201cThroughout our film study all week coaches were saying in that formation (Northwestern State) were running had a lot of hitches by No. 1 (the outside receiver), especially to the boundary. I read the (quarterback) and went with my gut feeling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Collins added: \u201cWe break the defensive staff meetings at night, and I go in the corner room and he\u2019s in there watching film. He\u2019s always going to take those little nuggets we give him and those coaching points. He is going to study tips and tendencies on his own as well and find some things as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Man of football<\/p>\n

The Marist football team started winter conditioning workouts at 5:30 a.m., but that wasn\u2019t early enough for Nestor in the 2021-22 season. Nestor telephoned defensive backs coach John Stefanos about putting him through additional footwork drills on the football field at 4:30.<\/p>\n

Stefanos replied: \u201cIf you\u2019re gonna be there, I\u2019ll be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

That meant workouts in the pre-dawn darkness. In December and January. In Chicago. They would do it in the freezing cold, and would only call it off if it was too snowy outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best way to describe him is passion and intensity,\u201d Stefanos said. \u201cHe has always been that kid. He\u2019s driven. He\u2019s football smart. He doesn\u2019t know any speed but full go. He\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Mesmerized\u2019<\/p>\n

Marist head coach Mike Fitzgerald coached at York Community High School in Elmhurst during Nestor\u2019s career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI kind of got to see it from the other side,\u201d Fitzgerald said. \u201cAnd, man, he kept me up late at night trying to figure out how we were gonna block him and keep him out of the mix.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fitzgerald was supposed to be looking at the Redhawks defense as a whole, but was \u201cmesmerized\u201d watching Nestor\u2019s physicality, athleticism and coverage skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was one of those guys on film where you get caught up just watching a player instead of, like, the defense,\u201d Fitzgerald said. \u201cHe was just fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nestor played safety, corner and receiver at Marist, and as a junior helped the Redhawks advance to the big school state semifinals.<\/p>\n

Popular dude<\/p>\n

During down times in college, Nestor returns to Marist and runs middle-school camps for defensive backs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sixth, seventh, eighth-graders, they\u2019re all: \u2018Where\u2019s Nestor? Where\u2019s Nestor?\u2019 \u201d Stefanos said. \u201cThey love him. He brings energy and knowledge and passion. And we just sit back and watch and let him run it. And it\u2019s very popular.\u201d<\/p>\n

Incredible confidence<\/p>\n

The Gophers are leaning into being \u201cdelusional\u201d about how good of a team they have this season. Nestor has bought in.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got so much love for this team,\u201d Nestor said. \u201cOur HAVOC defense, man, we are the best in the country. I\u2019m going to say that right now. We can go toe-to-toe against anybody in the country.<\/p>\n

But there is also a dose of humanity. After Nestor\u2019s second pick Saturday, he didn\u2019t manage any return yards and poked fun at himself.<\/p>\n

\"MinnesotaMinnesota Gophers defensive back John Nestor (17) intercepts a pass from Northwestern State Demons quarterback Abram Johnston (10) during the second quarter of NCAA football game at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (John Autey \/ Pioneer Press)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt didn\u2019t look the most athletic play when I fell on the ground,\u201d Nestor said, \u201cbut it\u2019s all good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Originally Published: September 10, 2025 at 2:59 PM CDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Gophers offered a scholarship to Chicago cornerback John Nestor in February 2022, but the three-star recruit committed…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":357680,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[339,7,1454,49,48,9],"class_list":{"0":"post-357679","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-college-sports","9":"tag-football","10":"tag-gophers-football","11":"tag-ncaa","12":"tag-ncaa-football","13":"tag-sports"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115181822179080249","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357679","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357679"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357679\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357680"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357679"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357679"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357679"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}