Ryan Nelson
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Career Summary
Ryan Nelson is an offensive tackle from Buena Park, California, who played at Virginia, starred with the Michigan Panthers in the UFL, and signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025.
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Early Life
Nelson is from Buena Park, California, and attended Buena Park High School.
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High School
At Buena Park High School, Nelson earned first-team All-County recognition and was the Freeway League MVP as a senior. He also competed in basketball and track and field.
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College Career
Nelson started 49 games in four seasons at Virginia, playing both tackle and guard. In 2021, he helped Virginia rank second nationally in passing offense at 392.6 yards per game and third in total offense at 515.8 yards per game.
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Path to the NFL
The Chargers signed Nelson as a free agent on July 17, 2025, after his UFL play with the Michigan Panthers.
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NFL Career
Nelson joined the Chargers during 2025 training camp as an offensive tackle following his All-UFL season.
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Career Accomplishments
Nelson earned All-UFL honors as the Michigan Panthers' starting left tackle in 2025 and helped the team reach the UFL Championship. He also helped the Panthers to a 7-3 record and postseason berth in 2024.
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Playing Style
Nelson has experience at both tackle and guard and was the starting left tackle for Michigan's 2025 All-UFL offensive line.
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31258, 00-0038199, 1999-08-06, Ryan Nelson, Ryan, Nelson
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