Nelson, a North Side graduate, was a four-year letterman at Ball State University from 1979-1982 and a two-time all-Mid-American Conference receiver and kick returner. He had a single-game high of 157 kick-off return yards and still holds the BSU record for kickoff return average in a game with 57 yards and for a career with a return average of 24.8 yards. His best kickoff return was for 100 yards against Ohio University in 1980. He also caught 120 passes for 1,874 yards and 9 touchdowns during his career. He was inducted into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.