Northwestern has offered four-star 2028 linebacker Blake Nesbitt, adding another talented defensive prospect to the Wildcats’ recruiting radar as they continue building for the future.
Northwestern is continuing to build its recruiting board for the future, extending an offer to four-star 2028 linebacker Blake Nesbitt of Kirksville High School in Missouri.
Nesbitt, who stands at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, is one of the younger defensive prospects to emerge on Northwestern’s recruiting radar. He plays both linebacker and tight end for Kirksville and has already earned first-team All-State and first-team All-District honors at linebacker, along with first-team All-Conference recognition at linebacker and tight end.
As a sophomore, Nesbitt put together a productive season on defense, recording 117 total tackles and 74 solo tackles. He also finished with 12 tackles for loss, five blocked punts and two interceptions.
Those numbers show the type of versatility Nesbitt can bring to a defense. He has experience making plays behind the line of scrimmage, creating turnovers and contributing on special teams. Prep Redzone also highlighted his size, lateral quickness, burst, speed, strength, tackling ability and coverage skills as part of his early evaluation.
Nesbitt is already drawing interest from programs across the country, making Northwestern’s pursuit an important one. With major programs such as Michigan, Oklahoma, Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Georgia Tech among his offers, the Wildcats will have to work to build a strong relationship and convince him that Evanston is the right place for his development.
ESPN lists Nesbitt as a 6-foot-3, 220-pound inside linebacker in the 2028 class and identifies Kirksville, Missouri, as his hometown. He remains uncommitted as he continues through the recruiting process.
For Northwestern, the offer gives the Wildcats another talented defensive prospect to monitor as they continue looking toward the future. Nesbitt still has plenty of time to develop before reaching the college level, but his early production and physical tools have already attracted attention from several Power Four programs.
Jul 30, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Northwestern Football head coach David Braun speaks during Big Ten Media Days at Hilton Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn ImagesNorthwestern has continued to emphasize building a strong defensive foundation under head coach David Braun, and adding players with Nesbitt’s size, athleticism and production could become important as the Wildcats continue to build their future recruiting classes.
With multiple seasons still ahead of him, Nesbitt has plenty of opportunities to improve his game and add to his resume. For now, Northwestern has made it clear that it sees enough potential to make him a player worth pursuing early in the 2028 recruiting cycle.
Nesbitt will be a name to monitor as his recruitment continues to develop and more programs around the country take notice of his early production.
