Ben Nikkel

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
6-1
Weight:
210
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
McPherson, Kan.
High School:
McPherson
Prev School:
McPherson College

Awards & Honors
Co-Captain (2023)
Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2023)
Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (F21, F22, S23, F23)

2023
Walk-on earned a scholarship before the season and played in 12 games, making two starts ... co-captain ... a key contributor on special teams in addition to the defensive backfield ... finished with 40 tackles, including 1.0 for a loss ... second on team with eight special teams tackles ... also had three pass breakups ... had a career-high eight tackles, including 1.0 for a loss, against Ohio ... career-high two pass breakups to go along with two tackles against UNI ... notched six tackles in win against Oklahoma State ... scooped up a blocked punt and returned it four yards against TCU ... recorded five tackles against Memphis in the Liberty Bowl ... finished career playing in 24 games and making 43 tackles.

2022
Played in all 12 games as a special teams standout ... had three tackles.

2021
Redshirted.

At McPherson College
Compiled 107 receptions for 1,570 yards and 10 touchdowns in his three-year career … two-time all-conference selection… named co-captain … had 33 receptions for 333 yards in seven games in 2020 … also had two touchdown catches … tallied two 100-yard receiving games, including 123 yards on a career-high 10 catches vs. Sterling … also had 106 receiving yards, seven catches and a touchdown vs. Friends … played in 11 games in 2019, recording 53 receptions for 790 yards and eight touchdowns … posted four 100-yard receiving games … had 10 catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns vs. Sterling … posted 100 receiving yards on three receptions, including a career-long 75-yarder, vs. St. Mary … recorded five receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown vs. Bethany … had 21 receptions for 447 yards in 2018 with a pair of 100-yard receiving games … coached by Jeremiah Fiscus.

High School
Caught 16 passes for 153 yards and five touchdowns as a senior … also had 31 tackles and 3.0 TFL … coached by Jace Pavlovich.

Personal
Earned bachelor's degree in agricultural business ... working on master's degree in entrepreneurship.