Selected in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers.
Played in nine games, with one start, as a rookie, recording eight tackles, one forced fumble and one pass defensed.
Made NFL debut in a reserve role in season opener vs. San Francisco (9/8).
Played in a reserve role in win at Carolina (9/12), contributing one tackle, one pass defensed and a forced fumble (Cam Newton), which was recovered by the Buccaneers.
Registered three tackles in a reserve role vs. New York Giants (9/22).
Made first career start and recorded one tackle in win at Los Angeles Rams (9/29).
Recorded one tackle at New Orleans (10/6).
Played in a reserve role vs. Carolina (10/13).
Notched one tackle in a reserve role at Tennessee (10/27).
Played in a reserve role at Seattle (11/3) before leaving the game with a hamstring injury.
Inactive Weeks 10-15 with hamstring injury.
Returned to action in Week 17 and recorded one tackle vs. Atlanta (12/29).
Played in 37 games at Iowa (2015-18), totaling 119 tackles (31 for loss), 23.0 sacks, seven passes defensed, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery, which was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown.
Three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection
Posted 9.5 sacks as a redshirt junior (2018), tied for the second-most in the Big Ten and tied for the 17th-most in the FBS, while adding 45 tackles (13.5 for loss).
Named second-team All-Big-Ten by the league's media, while earning third-team honors from Phil Steele and the league's coaches.
In 2017, as a redshirt sophomore (2017), recorded 41 tackles (9.5 for loss), 7.5 sacks, four passes defensed, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal, earning third-team All-Big Ten honors from the league's media and honorable mention from the league's coaches.
Played in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman (2016), registering 33 tackles (eight for loss), 7.0 sacks, two forced fumbles and a pass defensed.
Attended Waukee High School (Urbandale, Iowa), where he earned Class 4A Western Iowa Defensive Player of the Year as a senior was named to the Des Moines Register Elite all-state team as a senior and first-team all-state by Iowa Newspaper.
Son of Christy and Jeff Nelson.
Father, Jeff, played football at Iowa.
In June 2019, rookies participated in Tampa's Police Department Citizen's Academy and visited MacDill's Air Force Base.
Nelson participated in the Linebackers Light Up the Holidays event as part of the 2019 holiday season, helping surprise a group of children with a shopping spree at Target.
