![\"Dominic](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sut-l-usdfoot-001.jpg\")
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)<\/p>\nOn a trophy shelf inside his parents\u2019 Chula Vista home sit two state championship football rings belonging to Dom Nankil. They\u2019re reminders of the state titles Nankil won at Mater Dei Catholic High School, where he was the Crusaders\u2019 starting quarterback.<\/p>\n
Translation: Nankil is accustomed to winning.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
USD once dominated the Pioneer Football League, winning or sharing nine league titles from 2011 to 2021. The Toreros haven\u2019t shared a league championship since 2021, and haven\u2019t been to the FCS playoffs since 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got to make a change to that,\u201d Nankil said this week.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
That chance to play arrived far sooner than anticipated. Days before USD was to open the 2023 season, a hazing scandal broke.<\/p>\n
Nearly half the team faced disciplinary action.<\/p>\n
Nankil was thrown into the cauldron, starting at quarterback, on the road, against Cal Poly. Nankil was nervous, but that wasn\u2019t his primary emotion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was excited,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have a dream to play as a true freshman, no matter how it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
USD lost that season opener, 27-10. Nankil was sacked six times. But he didn\u2019t embarrass himself, completing 15 of 27 passes for 145 yards. He didn\u2019t throw a touchdown, nor did he suffer an interception.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was literally the worst situation you could throw a freshman into,\u201d said USD coach Brandon Moore. \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
USD lost its first three games that season and finished 4-7, the program\u2019s first losing season since 2010. (Nankil lost a total of four games his junior and senior seasons combined at Mater Dei Catholic.)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cBad,\u201d Nankil said of his performance. \u201cNot very pleasing.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Nankil regained his starting job last season. He threw for 1,945 yards and 13 TDs as USD finished 8-4.<\/p>\n
He calls his play last year \u201cvery average.\u201d<\/p>\n
USD finished second in the PFL, barely missing out on the league\u2019s automatic playoff berth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t good enough to make the playoffs,\u201d Nankil said.<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
When Nankil entered the USD press box for an interview on Wednesday, one thing stood out. He\u2019s bigger. While he won\u2019t invoke an image of towering Justin Herbert, Nankil is significantly more muscular than he once was. He weighs 182 pounds \u2014 28 more than his freshman season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took the weight room way more seriously,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Nankil was only 17 when he enrolled at USD in late January 2023.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a boy,\u201d said Mark Lamoreaux, USD\u2019s Director of Athletic Performance. \u201cHe was a kid who relied on being an athletically talented kid. You\u2019re playing Division I football now. That\u2019s everyone. He\u2019s made some major strides in his commitment to change his body.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nankil\u2019s favorite quarterback is the Baltimore Ravens\u2019 Lamar Jackson. He describes his style of play as \u201cfree-flowing.\u201d Nankil could dunk a basketball in the ninth grade and played on Mater Dei\u2019s varsity basketball team as a sophomore and junior.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s athletic, gliding about in the pocket, isn\u2019t afraid to dart off and run and makes many of his throws on the run.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love him,\u201d said USD wide receiver Cole Monach. \u201cHe makes the off-platform throw. For me, as a receiver, you always have to be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
USD center Maicah Talavou enrolled at USD at the same time as Nankil.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is the type of person who never has a bad day,\u201d said Talavou. \u201cWhich is contagious. I\u2019ve never seen Dom mopey or complaining.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a happy, go-lucky guy,\u201d said Monach. \u201cStuff is just going to go right for him. Things will always pan out.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Dominic](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sut-l-usdfoot-005.jpg\")
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)<\/p>\n
His given name is Dominic James Nankil. He\u2019s part Filipino and Italian. He\u2019s not into formalities. Just call him Dom.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I hear Dominic,\u201d he said, \u201cI know I\u2019m in trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nankil\u2019s surname is tattooed down the outside of his right leg. His street sign and his grandparents\u2019 street sign are tattooed on the leg, as well as a pair of cleats. His birth year is inked on his right thigh.<\/p>\n
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:\u201cIn the 80s.\u201d<\/p>\n
He keeps them in clear shoe boxes, stacked high against a wall in his apartment, near his gaming gear.<\/p>\n
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\u2019 minor-league system, helped him buy the shoes.<\/p>\n
He also wears fake diamond earring studs in each ear. Those set him back $10 at Claire\u2019s.<\/p>\n
He has his eye on a more valuable piece of jewelry.<\/p>\n
\u201cStats are cool,\u201d he said. \u201cBut 30 touchdowns, 3,000 yards and losing isn\u2019t going to get anybody a ring around here.\u201d<\/p>\n
UC Davis at Toreros<\/p>\n
When: 7 p.m. Saturday<\/p>\n
Where: Torero Stadium<\/p>\n
History: UC Davis leads the all-time series, 9-1. The programs last met in 2022, with UC Davis winning 43-13.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Toreros notes: USD was picked to win the Pioneer Football League title in the preseason coaches\u2019 poll. Key players back include running back Adam Criter, wide receiver Cole Monach, punter\/kicker Emiliano Salazar and defensive back Ruben Lopez.<\/p>\n
DON NORCROSS<\/p>\n
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