University of Miami Athletics
60

Zion Nelson

position

Offensive Line

Height

6-5

Weight

316 lbs.

Class

Sixth-Year Redshirt Senior

Hometown

Sumter, S.C.

High School

Sumter

Twitter

@ZionNelson9

Instagram

@zanemankobe

 

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Zion Nelson - Football - University of Miami Athletics

2021 ALL-ACC, HONORABLE MENTION

2022 (Fourth-Year Junior): Played in one game during redshirt season…Saw action against Texas A&M (Sept. 17).

2021 (Sophomore*): Started all 12 games at left tackle for Hurricanes, serving as anchor of offensive line…Earned All-ACC Honorable Mention recognition…Started season opener against Alabama (Sept. 4) at left tackle…Started in win over Appalachian State (Sept. 11), where offense totaled 375 yards…Started against Michigan State (Sept. 18), helping lead Hurricanes to 440 yards of offense…Started against Central Connecticut State (Sept. 25)…Started on offensive line against Virginia (Sept. 30) and North Carolina (Oct. 16)…Helped lead team to win at NC State (Oct. 23) with start at left tackle…Helped power Hurricanes’ offense to 490-yard performance with start at left tackle at Pittsburgh (Oct. 30)…Started in 563-yard performance for offense in win over Georgia Tech (Nov. 6), including 174 rushing yards…Started at left tackle at Florida State (Nov. 13)…Made start at left tackle in win over Virginia Tech (Nov. 20), helping offense compile 411 yards…Started at left tackle in rout of Duke (Nov. 27) to end regular season, with offense gaining 140 rushing yards.

2020 (Sophomore): Saw action in 10 games and made seven starts, including final six games of season, at left tackle…Emerged as one of offensive line’s top performers by end of season…Saw action in opener against UAB (Sept. 10)…Started at left tackle in romp of rival Florida State (Sept. 26) in which Miami gained 517 yards, including 200 rushing yards…Saw action at top-ranked Clemson (Oct. 10)…Made start at left tackle in back-to-back home wins over Pittsburgh (Oct. 17) and Virginia (Oct. 24)…Helped lead offense to 620-yard performance in start at left tackle in come-from-behind win at NC State (Nov. 6)…Started in left tackle at Virginia Tech (Nov. 14)…Started at left tackle in 524-yard performance for offense in win at Duke (Dec. 5)…Started at left tackle in regular season finale against North Carolina (Dec. 12)…Helped lead offense to 512-yard output in 2020 Cheez-It Bowl against Oklahoma State (Dec. 29) with start at left tackle.

2019 (True Freshman): Earned starting left tackle job during preseason and started all 13 games at left tackle as true freshman…Made first start of career at left tackle in season opener vs. Florida (Aug. 24), helping Hurricanes outgain Gators, 308-306…Started at left tackle at North Carolina (Sept. 7)…Made start at left tackle in home wins over Bethune-Cookman (Sept. 14) and Central Michigan (Sept. 21)…Started at left tackle against Virginia Tech (Oct. 5)…Helped pave way for win over Virginia (Oct. 11) with start at left tackle…Started at left tackle against Georgia Tech (Oct. 19)…Anchored offensive line that allowed just two sacks to nation’s top-leading sack team in start at Pittsburgh (Oct. 26)…Started at left tackle in win at Florida State (Nov. 2)…Made start at left tackle in win over Louisville (Nov. 9), with offensive line allowing just one sack against Cardinals…Started at left tackle in games versus FIU (Nov. 23) and at Duke (Nov. 30)…Started Walk-On’s Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech (Dec. 26) at left tackle.

High School: Rated three-star prospect by ESPN.com and 247Sports.com…Listed as No. 29 player in South Carolina and No. 100 offensive tackle nationally by ESPN.com…Rated No. 39 player in South Carolina by 247Sports.com…Led Sumter to 10-1 record and appearance in Class AAAAA regional semifinals as senior in 2018…Chose Miami over offers from Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, Campbell, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky. among others.

* indicates student-athlete received extra year of eligibility in 2021 due to 2020 season affected by COVID-19 pandemic