FIU Athletics

2015 (Senior): Appeared in all 12 games for the Panthers, starting in five...Part of an offensive line that gained 4,173 yards (fifth-most in school history), including 2,854 through the air (second-most in school history)...Helped FIU record a school-record 22 TD passes and 15 rushing TDs (sixth-most in school history)...FIU’s o-line helped the Panthers gain over 400 yards of total offense six times...Aided FIU in scoring multiple TDs on offense in 10 of the team’s 12 games...Helped FIU record 439 yards of total offense (284 through the air), while allowing no sacks versus Charlotte (11/7)...FIU amassed 448 yards of total offense and five touchdowns, including 390 yards through the air versus Old Dominion (10/24) in eighth appearance of the season...Helped FIU produced 518 yards to total offense (seventh-most in school history) with 150 yards on the ground and 368 yards through the air versus UTEP (10/10)...Part of an o-line that helped FIU gain 490 yards of total offense, including 242 yards on the ground versus N.C. Central (9/19)...Helped the Panthers’ offense rack up 406 yards of total offense versus Indiana (9/12), including 283 yards through the air...Started for an offensive line that helped the Panthers register 131 yards on the ground and 260 through the air at UCF (9/3)...Allowed no sacks in the game as FIU’s offense totaled 391 yards on 69 total plays versus the Knights...Named Preseason Third-Team All-C-USA (Athlon).

2014 (Junior): Appeared in all 12 games for the Panthers...Helped FIU record 1,502 net rushing yards (4th-most in school history)…Helped FIU’s offense to 125.5 net yards-per-game (5th-best average all-time at FIU)…FIU’s offense finished with 11 rushing touchdowns (10th-most in school history)…Was part of an offensive line the helped FIU gain 350 yards-or-more of total offense four times...Helped the Panthers gain 144 yards on the ground and 231 through the air as FIU scored four offensive touchdowns versus Middle Tennessee (11/15)...Part of a line that produced 256 yards on the ground (seventh-most in FIU history) at Old Dominion (11/8)...FIU’s offense recorded a season-high of 388 yards of total offense versus the Monarchs...Helped FIU tie a school record for rushing touchdowns (4) versus Florida Atlantic (10/2)...The Panthers’ offense produced a season-high 236 yards though the air versus Pittsburgh (9/13), including two passing touchdowns...Controlled the line of scrimmage as FIU amassed 377 yards of total offense (148 rush, 229 pass) versus Wagner (9/6).

2013 (Sophomore): Started all 12 games at the right tackle position...made his first career start at Maryland (8/31).

2012 (Redshirt Freshman): Appeared in nine games…aside from lining up at tackle, also saw action at tight end.

2011 (Freshman): Redshirted...switched from the defensive line to the offensive line in spring ball.

Freedom: Committed on Nov. 28, 2010…also played on the defensive line and at tight end…was team captain as a senior…recorded 70 tackles and six sacks in his final campaign…2010 Orlando Sentinel All-County Second-Team Defense…was also first-team All-Metro and All-Area by the Orlando Sentinel…named the West squad’s Defense MVP at the 2010 Central Florida All-Star Game, where he had a sack and four tackles…was named the tight end MVP at the 2010 Orlando National Underclassmen Combine...was the receiver MVP at the 2009 camp…No. 37 on the 2011 Orlando Sentinel Central Florida Super60 list…rated by the Orlando Sentinel as Central Florida’s No. 2 defensive end prospect…coached by Andy Johnson...also competed in baseball as a pitcher.

Personal: Parents - Hal and Amy Nielsen...sibling - Peter...born April 5, 1993...majoring in business...began playing football at age 13...played Pop Warner for the South Orange Bears.