University of Minnesota Athletics
2021 Football Roster

Jersey Number 5
Nyles Pinckney
- Position:
- DL
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-1 / 290
- Hometown:
- Beaufort, S.C.
- High School:
- Whale Branch
- Prev School:
- Clemson
- Letters:
- 1
- Class:
- Graduate Student
PRONUNCIATION |
TRANSFER: Transferred to Minnesota from Clemson • enrolled at Minnesota in January 2021 and played the 2021 season for the Gophers.
2021 • GRADUATE SEASON: Started 12 of 13 games • made 29 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks • forced one fumble. Game-by-Game: Made one tackle against Ohio State • saw action against Miami (OH) and at Colorado • registered five tackles against Bowling Green • totaled two tackles, including 0.5 tackles for a loss and 0.5 sacks, at Purdue • made three tackles, including 1.5 tackles for a loss and one sack, against Nebraska • recorded two tackles and forced one fumble against Maryland • notched two tackles at Northwestern • made three tackles, including 0.5 tackles for a loss, against Illinois • had three tackles at Iowa • recorded seven tackles, including one sack and tackle for a loss, at Indiana • registered one quarterback hurry against Wisconsin.
PREVIOUS COLLEGE: Spent five years at Clemson and is credited with 98 tackles (13.5 for loss), three sacks, a forced fumble and three fumble recoveries in 1,125 defensive snaps in 55 career games (15 starts) from 2017-20 • was part of a Clemson senior class that was the first in school history to go undefeated at Death Valley in a four-year span (27-0 from 2017-20) • in 2020, credited with 27 tackles (3.0 for loss), a sack and a fumble recovery in 12 games (two starts) • scored a rushing touchdown as part of Clemson’s jumbo package • in 2019, recorded 27 tackles (4.0 for loss), one sack and a fumble recovery in 14 games (13 starts) • in 2018, collected 26 tackles (4.5 for loss), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 15 games • in 2017, made 18 tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack in 14 games • redshirt season in 2016.
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduate of Whale Branch High School in Seabrook, South Carolina • wore No. 11 for the Warriors • as a senior, recorded 72 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, four sacks, six forced fumbles, three recovered fumbles, two blocked punts and two defensive touchdowns • named the Beaufort Gazette’s All-Area Defensive Player of the Year • as a junior, made 98 tackles, 27 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three blocked field goals, 10 forced fumbles and eight fumble recoveries • as a sophomore, tallied 91 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and seven sacks • ranked as the No. 5 defensive tackle in the nation by 247Sports and No. 2 prospect in South Carolina according to Rivals • coached by Jerry Hatcher.
Coach Fleck Previews Iowa
Monday, October 20
Greg Eslinger Honored
Monday, October 20
Coach Fleck Postgame Interview
Saturday, October 18
Highlights: Gophers 24, Nebraska 6
Friday, October 17