Illinois DB from 2012 Era with Tackling Grit and Pick-Six Flair
Patrick Nixon-Youman, a 5-10, 175-pound cornerback for the Illinois Fighting Illini in 2012, flashed starter potential with 27 tackles across 11 games (3 starts), peaking at a career-high 10 stops vs. Minnesota, plus 1 INT returned for a TD (68 yards vs. Indiana in 2010) and a PBU in the UCLA bowl win. His undersized frame belied intense ball skills and tackling tenacity, making him a scrappy cover man ideal for teams needing feisty, high-motor DBs who thrive in big moments—though no recent data post-2012 suggests he's likely off the radar for current rosters.
