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Monmouth University Athletics

2025 Football Roster

Chad Carney
Connor Graf
Connor Graf
Connor Graf
Mark Brown
Monmouth Athletics
Connor Graf

20 Rodney Nelson

  • Ht./Wt. 5-8 / 195
  • Class Redshirt Sophomore
  • Position Running Back
  • Hometown Owings Mills, MD
  • Highschool Franklin

Biography

2024 (Redshirt Sophomore)
  • Phil Steele Preseason All-CAA Second Team
2024 (Redshirt Freshman)
  • FCS Football Central Freshman All-America Team
  • Phil Steele Third Team Freshman All-American and Fourth Team All-CAA
  • Played in all 12 games, including nine starts, at running back as a redshirt freshman
  • Team leader with 809 rushing yards on the season on 133 carries, good for 6.1 yards per attempt
  • Totaled six rushing touchdowns
  • Caught 17 passes for 154 yards on the year
  • Had six carries for 17 yards and two receptions for 22 yards, including a season-long 18-yard reception, at Eastern Washington (8/29)
  • Had six carries for 22 yards and two catches for 27 yards against Lafayette (9/7)
  • Earned his first start and led Monmouth with 91 yards rushing, including a 24-yard run for his first-career touchdown at Maine (9/14)
  • Led the Hawks with 117 yards rushing, including a career-long 59-yard touchdown run at FIU (9/21)
  • Also had a season-high three catches at FIU for 12 yards (9/21)
  • Racked up a career-high 128 yards rushing, including a 34-yard touchdown run against Fordham (9/28)
  • Led the team with 76 yards rushing on 14 carries against Delaware (10/5)
  • Had a team-high 101 rushing yards on 16 carries in the win over Bryant (10/19)
  • Ran for 47 yards on 10 attempts and had two catches for 15 yards at New Hampshire (11/9)
  • Led Monmouth with 83 yards on 10 carries, including a 26-yard touchdown run in the win over No. 8/9 Villanova (11/16)
  • Ran for 44 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns in the win at No. 20/18 Stony Brook (11/23)
  • Also caught two passes for 17 yards against the Seawolves (11/23)
2023 (Freshman)
  • Appeared in three games at running back and on special teams as a freshman
  • Made his collegiate debut at Lafayette (9/23)
  • Made two solo tackles on special teams and seven rushing attempts for 15 yards
Before Monmouth
  • Played running back and corner back at Franklin High School for head coach Anthony Burgos
  • Named to Maryland Varsity Class of 2022 Top Running Backs list
  • Had 954 yards as a senior in 2021
  • Helped Franklin to 2019 and 2021 MPSSAA 3A region title games
Personal
  • Son of Renee Burris
  • Brother, Gavin Nelson, is a wide receiver for the Hawks 
  • Major is undecided 

Statistics

Season:
2025

Season Statistics

Season Statistics

No statistics available for this season.

Career Statistics

There are no statistics available for this player.

Historical Player Information

  • 32

    2023Freshman

    Running Back
    5'8" 195 lbs
    32
  • 20

    2024Redshirt Freshman

    Running Back
    5'8" 195 lbs
    20
  • 20

    2025Redshirt Sophomore

    Running Back
    5'8" 195 lbs
    20