Zion Nelson
| No. 60 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Offensive tackle |
| Class | Senior |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | January 9, 2001 Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) |
| Weight | 326 lb (148 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
|
| High school | Sumter (Sumter, South Carolina) |
Zion Nelson (born January 9, 2001) is an American former college football offensive tackle who played for the Miami Hurricanes from 2019 to 2023.
Early life
Nelson grew up in Sumter, South Carolina and attended Sumter High School. He was initially rated a two-star recruit and committed to play college football at Appalachian State.[1] Nelson's recruitment picked up during his senior season, in which the Fighting Gamecocks rushed for over 2,000 yards and won 10 games, and he flipped his commitment after a late offer from Miami.[2]
College career
Nelson enrolled joined the Miami Hurricanes as an early enrollee.[3] He was named the starting left tackle for the Hurricanes going into his freshman year after performing well in summer training camp.[4] Nelson started all 13 of Miami's games as a freshman and allowed the most sacks of any starting tackle from a Power Five conference.[5] After initially losing his starting job, Nelson regained his spot as the Hurricanes' starting left tackle for the final six games of his sophomore season.[6]
On July 25, 2024, Nelson announced that he would medically retire from football after multiple knee injuries.[7]
References
- ^ "Sumter High's Nelson takes Miami's offer". The Item. December 20, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Wilson, David (December 14, 2018). "Here's everything you need to know about the Miami Hurricanes' newest O-line commit". Miami Herald. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ "There are 100 pounds more of Zion Nelson to love these days at the University of Miami". Miami Herald. August 7, 2019. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Navarro, Manny (May 21, 2019). "The Chronicles of Zion Nelson and the path the freshman left tackle took to the University of Miami". The Athletic. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Navarro, Manny (March 25, 2021). "How Miami's Zion Nelson has gone from an overmatched true freshman to a 'first-rounder'". The Athletic. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ "Miami's Zion Nelson getting early 2022 NFL draft recognition". Sun-Sentinel. April 19, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
- ^ Benjamin, Marcus (July 25, 2024). "Miami Offensive Lineman Zion Nelson Medically Retires". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 20, 2024.