On a trophy shelf inside his parents’ Chula Vista home sit two state championship football rings belonging to Dom Nankil. They’re reminders of the state titles Nankil won at Mater Dei Catholic High School, where he was the Crusaders’ starting quarterback.
Translation: Nankil is accustomed to winning.
He’s 21 years old now, in his fourth season at the University of San Diego. The Toreros open the 2026 season Saturday night at home against UC Davis, ranked sixth among Football Championship Subdivision schools. Nankil is about to begin his third season as a starter.
USD once dominated the Pioneer Football League, winning or sharing nine league titles from 2011 to 2021. The Toreros haven’t shared a league championship since 2021, and haven’t been to the FCS playoffs since 2019.
“I’ve got to make a change to that,” Nankil said this week.
Nankil threw for a combined 6,784 yards and 72 touchdowns as a junior and senior at Mater Dei Catholic. But at 6 feet and barely 150 pounds, he did not attract much attention from major colleges. UAB offered a scholarship, but Nankil chose to attend non-scholarship USD, in part, because he knew he had a chance to play early in his career and his parents could watch him play.
That chance to play arrived far sooner than anticipated. Days before USD was to open the 2023 season, a hazing scandal broke.
Nearly half the team faced disciplinary action.
Nankil was thrown into the cauldron, starting at quarterback, on the road, against Cal Poly. Nankil was nervous, but that wasn’t his primary emotion.
“I was excited,” he said. “You have a dream to play as a true freshman, no matter how it happened.”
USD lost that season opener, 27-10. Nankil was sacked six times. But he didn’t embarrass himself, completing 15 of 27 passes for 145 yards. He didn’t throw a touchdown, nor did he suffer an interception.
“It was literally the worst situation you could throw a freshman into,” said USD coach Brandon Moore. “But I think he came in with a great attitude. He just fought. Fought for his team, fought for his teammates, rallied the troops. He could take criticism when it was given to him and he just cowboyed up.”
USD lost its first three games that season and finished 4-7, the program’s first losing season since 2010. (Nankil lost a total of four games his junior and senior seasons combined at Mater Dei Catholic.)
Nankil started six games as a USD freshman, completing 58.6% of his passes for 1,158 yards. He threw five touchdown passes, rushed for one score and suffered four interceptions.
“Bad,” Nankil said of his performance. “Not very pleasing.”
The next season was spent as an understudy, attempting one pass. Sixth-year senior Grant Sergent threw for 2,403 yards and 26 TDs as USD improved to 8-3.
Nankil regained his starting job last season. He threw for 1,945 yards and 13 TDs as USD finished 8-4.
He calls his play last year “very average.”
USD finished second in the PFL, barely missing out on the league’s automatic playoff berth.
“It wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs,” Nankil said.
Dominic Nankil works out with the team during Torero team practice at University San Diego on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
When Nankil entered the USD press box for an interview on Wednesday, one thing stood out. He’s bigger. While he won’t invoke an image of towering Justin Herbert, Nankil is significantly more muscular than he once was. He weighs 182 pounds — 28 more than his freshman season.
“I took the weight room way more seriously,” he said.
Nankil was only 17 when he enrolled at USD in late January 2023.
“He was a boy,” said Mark Lamoreaux, USD’s Director of Athletic Performance. “He was a kid who relied on being an athletically talented kid. You’re playing Division I football now. That’s everyone. He’s made some major strides in his commitment to change his body.”
Nankil’s favorite quarterback is the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. He describes his style of play as “free-flowing.” Nankil could dunk a basketball in the ninth grade and played on Mater Dei’s varsity basketball team as a sophomore and junior.
He’s athletic, gliding about in the pocket, isn’t afraid to dart off and run and makes many of his throws on the run.
“I love him,” said USD wide receiver Cole Monach. “He makes the off-platform throw. For me, as a receiver, you always have to be ready.”
USD center Maicah Talavou enrolled at USD at the same time as Nankil.
“He is the type of person who never has a bad day,” said Talavou. “Which is contagious. I’ve never seen Dom mopey or complaining.”
“He’s a happy, go-lucky guy,” said Monach. “Stuff is just going to go right for him. Things will always pan out.”
Dominic Nankil works out with the team during Torero team practice at University San Diego on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, in San Diego, CA. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
His given name is Dominic James Nankil. He’s part Filipino and Italian. He’s not into formalities. Just call him Dom.
“When I hear Dominic,” he said, “I know I’m in trouble.”
Nankil’s surname is tattooed down the outside of his right leg. His street sign and his grandparents’ street sign are tattooed on the leg, as well as a pair of cleats. His birth year is inked on his right thigh.
His dress style is what you would expect from a college student: casual. Black or white T-shirts, shorts, slides. He does have one fashion weakness: shoes. Asked how many he owns, he said, with an embarrassed smile:“In the 80s.”
He keeps them in clear shoe boxes, stacked high against a wall in his apartment, near his gaming gear.
In April, he paid $800 for a pair of Christian Louboutins, which, as of Wednesday, he had yet to wear. His brother Nate, who plays in the Athletics’ minor-league system, helped him buy the shoes.
He also wears fake diamond earring studs in each ear. Those set him back $10 at Claire’s.
He has his eye on a more valuable piece of jewelry.
“Stats are cool,” he said. “But 30 touchdowns, 3,000 yards and losing isn’t going to get anybody a ring around here.”
UC Davis at Toreros
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Torero Stadium
History: UC Davis leads the all-time series, 9-1. The programs last met in 2022, with UC Davis winning 43-13.
Aggies notes: Davis opened last weekend with a 31-24 escape against Portland State. The Aggies trailed 21-0 at halftime. Treynor Cleeland completed a 22-yard TD pass with 27 seconds remaining for the winning score. Head coach Tim Plough played football and baseball at Ramona High.
Toreros notes: USD was picked to win the Pioneer Football League title in the preseason coaches’ poll. Key players back include running back Adam Criter, wide receiver Cole Monach, punter/kicker Emiliano Salazar and defensive back Ruben Lopez.
DON NORCROSS