Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 59-7vs Eastern Illinois | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 1 tackles |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#35
Nate Cleveland
Sophomore linebacker for Minnesota. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
6′2″ · 225 lb · Hoffman Estates, IL · Hoffman Estates
Returning to Minnesota for 2026
The numbers
1
tackle · 2026
1 TFL
1 game into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 tackles, 1 TFL, vs Eastern Illinois
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
2 linebacker for Minnesota. 2026: 1 game with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Minnesota in 2025.
Nate Cleveland
One game to point at: 1 tackles, 1 TFL against Eastern Illinois — Week 1, 2026.
1 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
His career
2025
- Signed with Minnesota3-star out of Hoffman Estates
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Minnesota
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026Minnesota1-1HC: P.J. Fleck · Pass-leaning
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 1.0 TKL/g, 1.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
P.J. Fleck
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Minnesota | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 59–7
1 TOT · 1 SOLO · 1 TFL
Dominant 52-point win at home against Eastern Illinois.
With J. Tracy — 5 rec · 98 yds · D. Lindsey — 264 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT · QBR 86.2 · 6 rush yds (2 car)
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Minnesota
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Minnesota
Returning around him
- 1 Minnesota player drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -1 net (19 in / 20 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Minnesota · Last season: 8-5 · Talent rank #41 · 2026 recruiting class #28
Background
PRONUNCIATION Your browser does not support HTML5 audio. 2025 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Competed in eight games • made his collegiate debut against Purdue • played versus Nebraska • saw action at Iowa and against Michigan State • played at Oregon and at Northwestern • saw action against Wisconsin • comp...
The linebacker corps · Minnesota
- #6Maverick Baranowski102 tackles · 2025
- #29Andrew Marshall61 tackles · 2025
- #49Matt Kingsbury34 tackles · 2025
- #2Emmanuel Karmo14 tackles · 2025
- #35Nate Cleveland1 game · 2026
5 more on the roster · Minnesota team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology