* 2021, 2022 MVFC Honor Roll

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: Majoring in business and marketing...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.

RaJa Nelson