Running back, Nebraska, 2012–⁠16

Jordan Nelson

Lettered 2014–⁠16 (school media guide)

Number
No. 39
Height
5′8″
Hometown
Omaha, NE

Jordan Nelson played running back at Nebraska (2012–⁠16).

Returns

SeasonTeamKRYdsTD
2015Nebraska4690
2016Nebraska81570
Career122260

Season lines from CollegeFootballData, regular season and bowls.

On the roster

SeasonTeamNo.PosHt
2012Nebraska39RB
2013Nebraska39RB
2014Nebraska39RB
2015Nebraska39RB
2016Nebraska39RB5′8″

As each season’s roster listed the player (CollegeFootballData). Classes before the latest listing are counted back from it; “Yr 1” is the year on file where that count can’t place a season he played (a redshirt, transfer or 2020 year); height and weight as last listed.

Per play

SeasonTeamPlaysEPA/playPctileMedianTotalUsage
2014Nebraska130.29––3.7–

Expected points added: how much the player’s plays moved the team’s expected score, per play and in total. Plays: total EPA divided by EPA per play, the plays the source credits to him (for a receiver roughly his catches and runs, not every target; for a passer, not every attempt), so it can differ from attempts plus carries. Percentile: against the position’s regulars that season across all divisions on file (quarterbacks with 150+ plays, backs 60+, receivers and tight ends 30+), with how many there were (n) and their median; a dash means too few plays to rank. A season in progress uses the full-season bar scaled by games played, never below 75 plays for quarterbacks, 30 for backs and 20 for receivers. The cohort grows or shrinks with the source’s coverage each season (2025 lists far more players), so compare percentiles rather than raw EPA across years. FCS seasons are marked. Usage: the share of the team’s plays the player was part of (shown from 20 plays). From CollegeFootballData, 2013 on.

Game by game

2016 Nebraska 6 games, 8 returns, 157 yards
DateOpponentResultKRYdsTD
Sep 3vs.Fresno StateW 43–⁠10–––
Sep 10vs.WyomingW 52–⁠171450
Sep 17vs.OregonW 35–⁠321210
Oct 1vs.IllinoisW 31–⁠161240
Nov 25atIowaL 10–⁠403520
Dec 30 ✦vs.TennesseeL 24–⁠382150
2015 Nebraska 3 games, 4 returns, 69 yards
DateOpponentResultKRYdsTD
Oct 3atIllinoisL 13–⁠142440
Oct 31atPurdueL 45–⁠551130
Nov 7vs.Michigan StateW 39–⁠381120
2014 Nebraska 4 games, 74 rushing yards
DateOpponentResultKRYdsTD
Aug 30vs.Florida AtlanticW 55–⁠7–––
Sep 13atFresno StateW 55–⁠19–––
Sep 27vs.IllinoisW 45–⁠14–––
Nov 1vs.PurdueW 35–⁠14–––

Box scores from CollegeFootballData, 2004 on. ✦ postseason; ★ a career high on file.

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