CJ Nelson

WR · #7 · Ball State · SR · 5'11" · 184 · North Richland Hills, TX

WR-X depth chart, 3rd

83 2026 receiving yards

11 of 16 2026 catches

0 2026 TDs

2 Explosive plays

6 Career games (2 starts)

Career

Season	Team	GP	GS	Rec-Tgt	Yards	YPR	TD
2026	Ball State	6	2	11-16	83	7.5	0

2026 Percentile vs WRs

Receiving yards per game 13.8 32

Yards per catch 7.5 11

Catch rate 68.8% 68

Receiving TDs 0 0

Around CJ

Projected 2026 starters · 2026 production

Keldric Luster QB · 1,066 pass yds · 6g

TJ Horton RB · 393 rush yds · 7g

WR-X

Jamarion McDougle WR · 201 rec yds · 7g

WR-Z

Donovan Hamilton WR · 273 rec yds · 6g

WR-SL

Isaiah Thacker WR · 152 rec yds · 5g

Tate Hoover TE · 37 rec yds · 7g

The situation

Ball State 2026 offense ›

Explosive play rate 10.9% 38

Red zone TD rate 72.0% 49

Line yards per carry 2.3 36

Sack rate allowed 5.0% 62

2026 Game log

Week	Opponent	Targets	Receptions	Receiving yards	RZ opps	Target share
W1	@ OSU	3	1	8	0	9%
W2	Stony Brook Seawolves	1	1	6	0	3%
W4	@ KENT	1	0	0	1	4%
W6	@ NW	4	3	10	0	9%
W7	@ BGSU	7	6	59	0	30%

Recruiting

2022 class · 247 composite

Three-star high school recruit

The 2022 board

#766 Blake Gunter TE · Madison Central TULN

#766 Miller McCrumby TE · Mount Pleasant ARST

#774

CJ Nelson WR · Richland HOU

#779 Chandler Rivers CB · Beaumont United DUKE

#779 Damani Dent S · Terry Parker MICH

WRs in the class

#106

Jaiven Plummer Episcopal CAL

#107

Eian Pugh Fenwick ILL

#108

CJ Nelson Richland HOU

#109

Tyrell Henry Roseville MSU

#110 Mehki Wall Dudley DUKE

2026 · 32th pctile of WRs

Recruit · 70th pctile of class

The pedigree says there is more in there.