Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 7-38@ New Mexico | 2 | 1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | |
| Wk 2 | W 13-10vs Colgate | 3 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 5 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#48
Nathan Vantimmeren
Junior defensive lineman on Central Michigan's 2026 roster.
6′5″ · 235 lb · Grand Rapids, MI · Grand Rapids Catholic Central H.S.
Returning to Central Michigan for 2026
The numbers
0
sacks · 2026
1 TFL · 5 tackles · 1 hurries
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 1 TFL, 2 tackles, at New Mexico
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 defensive lineman on Central Michigan's 2026 roster.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Central Michigan in 2023.
Nathan Vantimmeren
Nathan Vantimmeren has been at Central Michigan through two head coaches in three seasons. The receipt on tape: 3 tackles against Colgate, Week 2, 2026.
5 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- head-coach lineage
- game log
His career
2023
- Signed with Central Michigan3-star out of Catholic Central
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Central Michigan
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coaches2024
Central Michigan
2025–2026era →
Matt Drinkall
Central Michigan
Coaching transition mid-career: Jim McElwain → Matt Drinkall. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Central Michigan4-8HC: Jim McElwain · Run-leaning
2025Central Michigan7-6HC: Matt Drinkall · Run-heavy, slow tempo
2026Central Michigan1-1HC: Matt Drinkall · Run-heavy, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Elite: qb hurries (83rd percentile). 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 2 games: 2.5 TKL/g, 0.5 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
Matt Drinkall
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 | Central Michigan | 5 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Central Michigan | 1 | -- | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Central Michigan | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 6 | 2 | 1.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 13–10
vs Colgate
3 TOT · 1 SOLO · 1 QB HUR
A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 at home.
With A. H Flores — 57 yds · 0 TD · 1 INT · QBR 24.4 · 122 rush yds (22 car) · 1 TD · D. Duley — 32 AVG · 1 IN 20 · 37 LONG
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Central Michigan
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Defensive line · Central Michigan
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -5 net (12 in / 17 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Central Michigan · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #125 · 2026 recruiting class #95
Background
CAREER In three years at Central Michigan, has seen action in 28 career games with one start at tight end … Caught five passes for 31 yards and made on tackle on defense. 2025 As a redshirt sophomore tight and defensive end, saw action in all 13 games … Listed as a backup tight end and defensive...
The defensive line · Central Michigan
- #5Korver Demma9 tackles for loss · 2025
- #1JJ Douglas2 tackles for loss · 2025
- Daniel Bennett0 tackles for loss · 2025
- #96Quavion Bird0 tackles for loss · 2025
- #48Nathan Vantimmeren0 tackles for loss · 2025
15 more on the roster · Central Michigan team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology