Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 1 game
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 2 | W 38-32@ Air Force | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 3 tackles |
| Total | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 |
#4
Najee Nelson
Junior cornerback on North Dakota State's 2026 roster.
5′11″ · 197 lb · Lakeville, MN · Lakeville North HS
Returning to North Dakota State for 2026
The story
3 cornerback on North Dakota State's 2026 roster.
The record fills in as he plays.
His career, year by yearNajee Nelson
One game to point at: 3 tackles against Air Force — Week 2, 2026.
3 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- game log
Career arc
HS
Recruit
—
CFB
College
North Dakota State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2026North Dakota State3-0HC: Tim Polasek · Run-heavy
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 1 game: 3.0 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.0 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Tim Polasek
Pass share
37.7%
72 pass / 119 run
Plays / game
63.7
3 games
Team sack rate
6.0%
84 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Run-heavy.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | North Dakota State | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 38–32
at Air Force
3 TOT · 3 SOLO
Edged out Air Force on the road in a shootout.
With J. Williams — 18 rush yds (2 car) · N. Hayes — 228 yds · 2 TD · 1 INT · 17 rush yds (3 car) · 1 TD
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
North Dakota State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Cornerback · North Dakota State
Returning around him
- 2 North Dakota State players drafted to NFL
- Transfer portal: -4 net (3 in / 7 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
North Dakota State · Last season: 12-1 · Talent rank #131 · 2026 recruiting class #117
Background
* 2024 MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award * 2023, 2024 MVFC Honor Roll 2025 SEASON (SOPHOMORE): Played in six games at cornerback and on special teams for the Bison...Recorded three tackles on the year...Made one stop each against Southeast Missouri State, South Dakota and St. Thomas....
The secondary · North Dakota State
- #7Chance Tucker1 game · 2026
- #12DJ Voltz2 games · 2026
- #29Darius Givance3 games · 2026
- #22Hudson Artz1 game · 2026
- #4Najee Nelson1 game · 2026
18 more on the roster · North Dakota State team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology