Utah State University Athletics

HONORS: Academic All-Mountain West (2018, 2019); Mountain West Scholar-Athlete (2018, 2019).

2019 (JUNIOR SEASON): Appeared in all 13 games on special teams and finished the season with seven tackles (4-solo, 3-assist)… Had a season-high two tackles each against Nevada (10/19) and Kent State (12/20) in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl... Earned academic all-Mountain West honors and was an MW Scholar-Athlete.

2018 (SOPHOMORE SEASON): Played in all 13 games and finished the season with 16 tackles (10-solo, 6-assist), which included 1.0 sacks, to go along with one forced fumble… Had a career-high six tackles, including his first-career sack, against Tennessee Tech (9/13)… Added two tackles, and forced his first-career fumble, against New Mexico (10/27)… Also had two stops each against BYU (10/5) and Hawai’i (11/3)… Finished the season recording at least one tackle in eight different games… Earned academic all-Mountain West honors and was an MW Scholar-Athlete.

2017 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN SEASON): Did not appear in any games... Was named the Scout Team Co-Defensive MVP.

2016 (REDSHIRT): Redshirted during his first season at Utah State.

HIGH SCHOOL: Earned Utah Class 4A first-team all-state honors from both the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News at quarterback as both a junior and senior at Logan (Utah) High School... Was named the Region 5 MVP following his senior season in 2013 as he passed for 3,150 yards with 42 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, and had a completion percentage of 67.2 percent... Also recorded 1,150 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns as he averaged 6.4 yards per carry... Was 11-0 as a starting quarterback and produced 4,283 totals yards (389.4 ypg) and 52 touchdowns during his senior season... As a sophomore, he recorded 92 tackles at defensive back, while adding 11 pass breakups, three interceptions and one sack... Helped the Grizzlies to a region championship as a senior and a state title as a sophomore... Was also a two-time first-team all-state baseball player and was named the Region 5 MVP as a junior as he led the state with a .506 batting average, helping Logan HS to a region championship... Batted .376 during his senior season with two home runs and 14 doubles, and finished his baseball career with a .450 batting average as he hit six home runs and 40 doubles, while recording 90 RBIs. 

PERSONAL: One of four children of Keith and Joni Nelson... Older brother, Riley, started his collegiate career at USU as a quarterback before transferring to BYU... Older brother, DJ, was a quarterback and wide receiver for USU... Served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Manchester, England... Earned his bachelor's degree in biology from USU in the fall of 2020.