Hall of Fame
A four-year starter on UNA football teams from 1988-91, Nelson was one of the most exciting and explosive players in school history and earned all-conference honors as both a receiver and return specialist.
A Starkville, Miss., native, Nelson was a starting receiver and kick returner in 1988 and started at running back later that season. He led the team in receiving with 39 catches for 441 yards and two TDs, while also setting a school record with 721 yards on kickoff returns. That total included an 89-yard return for a touchdown against Mississippi College.
As a sophomore in 1989, Nelson moved to the defensive side as a starting cornerback where he made 18 tackles, had nine pass break-ups, two interceptions and caused a fumble. He was also responsible for the creation of the GSC Special Teams Player of the Week award. At that point the GSC only presented Offensive and Defensive Player of the Week honors, but Nelson's performance against Delta State resulted in the league's first-ever special teams honor. In all he touched the ball six times and returned it for 206 yards. He had three kickoff returns for 48 yards, two punt returns for 83 yards and a 75-yard interception return for a touchdown. He exceeded those marks later the same season with a 227-yard performance against Tennessee-Martin. That total included a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He finished 11th in the NCAA Division II in kickoff return average (25.6) and was the only player ranked in the top five in the GSC in both kickoff and punt returns, earning second-team All-GSC honors as a return specialist. He also led UNA in scoring with eight touchdowns.
As a junior he moved back to receiver but missed the first three games due to a broken hand. He finished the year with 20 catches for 447 yards and averaged 22.4 yards per catch. He had six receiving touchdowns. He scored three touchdowns in games against West Alabama and West Georgia. Against West Alabama he had TD catches of 60 and 34 yards and a 95-yard kickoff return for a score. He finished the game with 112 receiving yards on three catches. He had touchdown receptions of 46 and 43 yards against West Georgia and added a 60-yard punt return TD to be named GSC Offensive Player of the Week. He closed the season with 105 receiving yards on six catches in an NCAA playoff game against Jacksonville State and scored two touchdowns.
As a senior, he again led the team in scoring with six touchdowns, led the team in receiving with 26 catches for 424 yards and led the team in kickoff and punt returns with a combined 548 yards. He earned first-team All-GSC honors as a receiver and was selected as the permanent team captain and was the team’s most valuable player.
He finished his career as UNA's all-time, all-purpose yardage leader with 4,056 yards. Some 29 years after his career ended, he still ranks fifth best in school history. In all, Nelson had 189 yards rushing, 1,312 receiving, 1,959 on kickoff returns and 596 on punt returns. He had 85 career catches for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns and was the team’s top kickoff returner four straight years and top punt returner three of his four years.
Nelson is a 28-year employee with the City of Florence Gas Department. He and his wife Delia have three children, sons Jonathan and Ivan and daughter Winter.
