Hall of Fame
Nathan Jernigan developed into one of the most dominant defensive players in Cumberland Football history during a standout four-year career, anchoring the Phoenix defense from the moment he stepped on campus. Jernigan made an immediate impact as the Mid-South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2013 before developing into a two-time Mid-South Conference West Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016. A three-time First Team All-Mid-South Conference West Division selection, Jernigan established himself as one of the premier defenders in the NAIA, earning AFCA-NAIA Second Team All-American honors following his senior campaign in 2016.
Jernigan led the Phoenix defense in tackles in three consecutive seasons while finishing his career with 374 total tackles across 44 games played, ranking among the top tacklers in program history. He posted back-to-back 100-plus tackle seasons in 2015 and 2016, tallying 104 tackles as a junior before recording a career-high 105 stops in his senior season. Jernigan also proved disruptive in the backfield, totaling 12 sacks and 36 tackles for loss during his career while adding four interceptions and 14 pass breakups.
As a senior in 2016, Jernigan capped off his career with one of the best defensive seasons in the Mid-South Conference, recording 105 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and four sacks en route to conference Defensive Player of the Year honors and All-America recognition. He also earned Mid-South Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors twice and Tennessee Sports Writers Association Defensive Player of the Week recognition on two occasions.
Off the field, Jernigan matched his athletic success with excellence in the classroom. He earned First Team Academic All-American honors in 2015 while being named both an NAIA Scholar-Athlete and MSC Scholar-Athlete multiple times throughout his career. In 2016, Jernigan was recognized with the prestigious Cumberland University Lindsey Donnell Award.
