Nio Espinoza | Illinois State
College Football Player
Nio Espinoza
Illinois StateHeight6' 2"Weight235 lbsExperienceJunior
13SOLO
0Sacks
0Forced Fumbles
0Interceptions
Player Information
PositionLinebacker
Jersey#22
Height6' 2"
Weight235 lbs
BirthplaceCharlotte, NC
CollegeIllinois State
ClassJunior
TeamIllinois State
ConferenceMissouri Valley Football Conference
SubdivisionFCS
Season2026
StatusActive
Team & College
TeamIllinois State
ConferenceMissouri Valley Football Conference
SubdivisionFCS
Home StadiumHancock Stadium
LocationIL
LeagueNCAA Football
Next Game
Indiana StateWeek 8 · Hancock StadiumOctober 24, 2026 · 3:00 PMESPN+
More Illinois State Players
Season, Postseason & Career
| Split | TOT | SOLO | AST | SACK | FF | FR | YDS | INT | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG | PD | KB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 26 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | - | - | - |
Defense by Season
| Season | TOT | SOLO | AST | PD | SACK | FF | INT | YDS | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 26 | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 35 | 18 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Game Log
| Game | Result | TOT | SOLO | AST | SACK | FF | FF | FR | INT | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 @ Southern Illinois2026 Regular SeasonWeek 7 | W 35-14 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 vs South Dakota State2026 Regular SeasonWeek 5 | L 31-14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 @ Northern Iowa2026 Regular SeasonWeek 4 | L 28-21 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 vs Eastern Illinois2026 Regular SeasonWeek 3 | W 49-13 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 @ Northern Illinois2026 Regular SeasonWeek 2 | W 28-24 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 @ Western Illinois2026 Regular SeasonWeek 1 | W 41-10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
vs St. Francis (IL) Fighting Saints2026 Regular SeasonWeek 1 | W 76-0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |