* 2023 All-MVFC Honorable Mention (AP)
* 2021, 2022 MVFC Honor Roll
2025 SEASON (SENIOR): Returning to NDSU for an extra year of eligibility possible due to the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 season.
2024 SEASON (REDSHIRT): Played in four regular-season games and four postseason games to utilize a redshirt year due to an injury early in the season...Started five of the eight games at wide receiver...Made 26 catches for 256 yards and three touchdowns...Season-high five catches for 52 yards in the national championship against Montana State...Also made five receptions with one touchdown against Abilene Christian in the second round of the NCAA playoffs...Caught two touchdowns, including the game-winning score with 1:49 left, in the 13-9 regular-season win against South Dakota State...Had four catches for 48 yards in that game...Also had four receptions for 45 yards in the season-opener at Colorado and added two kickoff returns for 40 yards.
2023 SEASON (SENIOR): Honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference all-purpose player...Played in all 15 games as a wide receiver and return specialist...Second on the team with 917 all-purpose yards...NDSU's third-leading receiver with 31 catches for 388 yards...Caught touchdowns against Northern Iowa and Drake...Season-high six catches and 113 receiving yards at Northern Iowa...Also a rushing threat with 35 carries for 302 yards and two TDs...Ran for 103 yards against Western Illinois, including a 76-yard touchdown...Season-high six carries for 55 yards in the second round NCAA playoff win against Montana State...Returned eight kickoffs on the season, including a 77-yard kick return against South Dakota State.
2022 SEASON (JUNIOR): Played in 14 of 15 games missing only the NCAA semifinal against Incarnate Word due to injury...Third on the team with 15 receptions...Career-high four catches and 39 yards in the NCAA quarterfinal win over Samford...NDSU's primary kickoff returner with a team-high 12 returns...Averaged 19.9 yards per kick return...Second straight year on the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll.
2021 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Caught a pass in 9 of 15 games played at wide receiver and led the team in kickoff returns and yards...Finished the year with 14 receptions for 116 yards...Scored one touchdown in the South Dakota State game, a 14-yard pass from
Cam Miller...Career-high three catches and 27 yards in the season-opener against Albany...Career-long 50-yard kickoff return at North Dakota...Named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll.
2020-21 SEASON (FRESHMAN): Played in all 10 games as a true freshman...Made four receptions for 30 yards...Had catches against Southern Illinois, Missouri State, South Dakota State and Sam Houston...Also returned three kickoffs with an average of 10.0 yards per return.
HIGH SCHOOL: 2020 graduate of Lakeville North High School...Four-year starter for coach Brian Vossen...Played wide receiver, running back, defensive back and quarterback during his career...Three-time all-conference first team performer...All-state in 2018 and 2019 and back-to-back team MVP...Led the Panthers to a 39-8 record including the 2018 state championship...Set school records with 4,674 all-purpose yards, 72 total touchdowns and seven interceptions...Finalist for Minnesota’s “Mr. Football” award...Star Tribune Metro Player of the Year...Had 858 passing yards with 11 touchdowns and 1,182 rushing yards with 18 TDs his senior year...Also part of a state runner-up team in basketball and participated in lacrosse.
PERSONAL: Graduated from NDSU in May 2024 with a degree in business administration...Son of Gino and Stacey Nelson...Has two brothers, Alex and Najee, and two sisters, Akaila and Cassie...
Najee Nelson joined the Bison football program in 2023.
