Four-Star TE Carter Nelson commits to Nebraska

Four-star tight end Carter Nelson of Ainsworth (NE) High announced his commitment to Nebraska Wednesday afternoon.

The 6-foot-4, 220 pounder chose the Cornhuskers over Georgia, Notre Dame, and Penn State.

Nelson on why he chose Nebraska

“I finally saw how they are turning it around there and don’t have any doubts about that. I also bonded with the other commits really well and it’s my home state. It’s where my family is from.”

Relationship with coaching staff 

“I would probably say my best bond is with Ellsworth. I have a great bond with everyone on staff though and can’t wait to work with them!”

What it means to stay home to Carter Nelson

“It means a lot. They would have supported me either way but now I can support them more as well.”

The Cornhusker State tight end joins coach Matt Rhule  and the Cornhuskers’ top 25 class in the 2024 team rankings. He is accompanied by four-star safety Roger Gradney, four-star cornerback Mario Buford, and others.

Carter Nelson Scouting Summary

“Tight end prospect with a unique background and one of the stronger athletic profiles among jumbo athletes in the 2024 cycle. Has unverified size but listed at around 6-foot-4, 205 pounds prior to his senior season. Looks to have added some mass since that time. Hails from a remote area of north central Nebraska, where he plays 8-man football. Plays all over the field for his high school program, as is the case with most college prospects who play 8-man. Lines up as a quarterback, receiver, tight end, takes direct snaps and plays on defense. Looks like a literal man among boys playing at that level. Shows top end speed and bowls over defenders in the open field. Looks to have considerable burst.”

“The best athlete on the field by orders of magnitude. Shows the ability to track the football, but pure receiving skills remain a question. Has a sterling multi-sport profile. A bouncy basketball player who lives above the rim. Throws down tomahawk dunks in transition. Also shows his overall coordination, movement skills and spatial awareness on the hardwood. Also a standout over multiple events in track and field. Turned in a personal best throw of 52-3.5 feet in the shot put. Posted a 7-foot high jump as a sophomore. Ran in the 11.2 second range in the 100 meters as a sophomore. All are outstanding marks. A tougher evaluation and projection than many other high school prospects.”

Nelson ranks as the No. 57 player in the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also tabs in as the No. 3 tight end and the No. 1 player in the state of Nebraska.

He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $125K. The On3 NIL Valuation is the industry’s leading index that sets high school and college athletes’ projected annual value (PAV). The NIL valuation does not act as a tracker of the value of NIL deals an athlete has completed to date. It rather signifies an athlete’s value at a certain moment in time.