2023 Football Roster
Roster
Nelson, DJ
CB
/ FootballDE
/ FootballRB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballS
/ FootballWR
/ FootballDT
/ FootballLB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballDT
/ FootballQB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballLB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballDE
/ FootballLB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballQB
/ FootballS
/ FootballDT
/ FootballWR
/ FootballWR
/ FootballRB
/ FootballOLB
/ FootballOLB
/ FootballWR
/ FootballWR
/ FootballS
/ FootballQB
/ FootballS
/ FootballCB
/ FootballS
/ FootballRB
/ FootballCB
/ FootballS
/ FootballS
/ FootballLB
/ FootballS
/ FootballS
/ FootballCB
/ FootballS
/ FootballCB
/ FootballDT
/ FootballCB
/ FootballOLB
/ FootballS
/ FootballLB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballRB
/ FootballK
/ FootballP
/ FootballS
/ FootballLS
/ FootballLS
/ FootballOLB
/ FootballCB
/ FootballLS
/ FootballTE
/ FootballLB
/ FootballNT
/ FootballTE
/ FootballK/P
/ FootballOL
/ FootballLS
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballOL
/ FootballWR
/ FootballWR
/ FootballWR
/ FootballTE
/ FootballTE
/ FootballTE
/ FootballWR
/ FootballNT
/ FootballNT
/ FootballNT
/ FootballNT
/ FootballDE
/ Football
RB
/ FootballS
/ FootballCB
/ Football
P
/ Football
CB
/ FootballLB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ FootballS
/ Football
WR
/ FootballK/P
/ Football
TE
/ Football
S
/ Football
OLB
/ FootballLB
/ FootballWR
/ Football
S
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
LB
/ FootballK/P
/ Football
Jersey Number 5
DJ Nelson
- Position:
- TE
- Height:
- 6-5
- Weight:
- 230
- Class:
- Redshirt Sophomore
- Hometown:
- York, Ala.
- Previous School:
- Selma HS
Bio
Awards and Honors
2022: Named to All-OVC first team…Earned Freshman All-American honors from HERO Sports and Phil Steele (second team)…Tabbed to OVC All-Newcomer squad…Named to The Bluebloods all-conference first team…Garnered all-conference first team honors from Phil Steele…Named OVC Newcomer of the Week (Oct. 2)…Played in all 11 games for the Skyhawks while starting nine games at tight end…Helped team to OVC Championship…Tallied 21 receptions for 267 yards…Recorded six touchdowns…Led all OVC tight ends in both receiving yards and touchdowns…Posted a season-best three catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1) to be named OVC Newcomer of the Week…Tallied touchdown receptions against Missouri State (Sept. 8), Lindenwood (Sept. 24), Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1), Houston Christian (Oct. 29) and Kennesaw State (Nov. 5)…Had season-best six receptions against Kennesaw State (Nov. 5).
2021: Redshirted…Played in four games for the Skyhawks at tight end…Helped team to OVC Championship and second round berth in NCAA Division I playoffs…Saw action against Murray State (Oct. 9), Tennessee Tech (Nov. 13), Southeast Missouri (Nov. 20) and No. 10 Missouri State (Nov. 27)…Tallied two receptions for six yards against Tennessee Tech (Nov. 13).
BEFORE UTM: Prepped at Selma High School where he played for head coach Willie Gandy, helping the team to a regional championship...Tallied 3,775 yards of total offense and 40 touchdowns over his final two prep season.Notched 48 receptions for 1,632 yards and 14 touchdowns...Split time at quarterback, throwing for 1,583 yards and 18 touchdowns...Posted 561 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
PERSONAL: Born on Nov. 8, 2002…Son of the late Dion Nelson Sr. and Stacie & Stoney Pritchett…Has four siblings, DaKaari, Stoni, Sydni and Stori…Majoring in business administration.
- Yearly Honors
- All-OVC First Team (2022)
- HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American (2022)
- Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-American second team (2022)
- OVC All-Newcomer squad (2022)
- The Bluebloods All-Conference first team (2022)
- Phil Steele All-Conference first team (2022)
- Preseason Honors
- Phil Steele FCS Preseason All-American third team (2023)
- Big South-OVC Preseason Player to Watch (2023)
- Ranked 10th Returning FCS Tight End by HERO Sports (2023)
- The Bluebloods All-Conference first team (2023)
- Phil Steele All-Conference first team (2023)
- Weekly Honors
- OVC Newcomer of the Week (10/2/22)
2022: Named to All-OVC first team…Earned Freshman All-American honors from HERO Sports and Phil Steele (second team)…Tabbed to OVC All-Newcomer squad…Named to The Bluebloods all-conference first team…Garnered all-conference first team honors from Phil Steele…Named OVC Newcomer of the Week (Oct. 2)…Played in all 11 games for the Skyhawks while starting nine games at tight end…Helped team to OVC Championship…Tallied 21 receptions for 267 yards…Recorded six touchdowns…Led all OVC tight ends in both receiving yards and touchdowns…Posted a season-best three catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns against Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1) to be named OVC Newcomer of the Week…Tallied touchdown receptions against Missouri State (Sept. 8), Lindenwood (Sept. 24), Tennessee Tech (Oct. 1), Houston Christian (Oct. 29) and Kennesaw State (Nov. 5)…Had season-best six receptions against Kennesaw State (Nov. 5).
2021: Redshirted…Played in four games for the Skyhawks at tight end…Helped team to OVC Championship and second round berth in NCAA Division I playoffs…Saw action against Murray State (Oct. 9), Tennessee Tech (Nov. 13), Southeast Missouri (Nov. 20) and No. 10 Missouri State (Nov. 27)…Tallied two receptions for six yards against Tennessee Tech (Nov. 13).
BEFORE UTM: Prepped at Selma High School where he played for head coach Willie Gandy, helping the team to a regional championship...Tallied 3,775 yards of total offense and 40 touchdowns over his final two prep season.Notched 48 receptions for 1,632 yards and 14 touchdowns...Split time at quarterback, throwing for 1,583 yards and 18 touchdowns...Posted 561 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
PERSONAL: Born on Nov. 8, 2002…Son of the late Dion Nelson Sr. and Stacie & Stoney Pritchett…Has four siblings, DaKaari, Stoni, Sydni and Stori…Majoring in business administration.
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 5
Tuesday, September 23
Skyhawk Sports Talk - Season 3, Episode 4
Wednesday, September 17
FB: Southern Illinois Postgame Press Conference
Sunday, September 14
2025 UT Martin Athletics Hall of Fame Induction
Sunday, September 14
