Nelson Ceaser

OLB, DE · Houston

As a Junior (2023)

  • Houston Football Team Captain
  • Received Bachelor of Science in Integrated Studies
  • First-Team All-Big 12 Conference
  • Reese’s Senior Bowl invitee
  • Capped career with 86.3 overall grade - 10th among draft-eligible edge rushers
  • Made 11 starts, playing 591 total snaps
  • Eighth nationally with 0.86 sacks per game
  • Led Big 12 in sacks (9.5) and sacks per game (0.86)
  • Team leader with 13.5 tackles for loss
  • 43 tackles including 28 solo stops
  • 34 total pressures including 20 hurries
  • 76.6 rush defense grade per PFF
  • Seventh best rush defense grade among Big 12 edge defenders
  • 3.0 sacks at Baylor (Nov. 4) were tied for most by Big 12 defender on season
  • 3.0 sacks at Baylor marked fifth most in UH single-game history
  • Against Baylor: 8.0 tackles (7.0 solo) and 3.0 sacks
  • Big 12-best 0.75 sacks per game in league contests
  • Produced a sack in seven different games
  • Tackles for loss in 10 of his 11 games
  • In collegiate finale, blocked a 26-yard field goal attempt at UCF (Nov. 25)
  • 7.0 tackles including 3.0 TFL and 2.0 sacks at Rice (Sept. 9)


As a Sophomore (2022)

  • Played in all 13 games (729 snaps)
  • Made 11 starts at defensive end
  • Second on team in tackles for loss (10.0)
  • Contributed a tackle for loss in nine of 13 games
  • Third on team in sacks (4)
  • No. 3 grade in The American among edge defenders per PFF (82.7)
  • 82.7 grade trailed only teammates D’Anthony Jones and Atlias Bell
  • No. 7 grade nationally among edge defenders in 2025 draft class (82.7)
  • Led American edge defenders with an 80.5 coverage grade (PFF)
  • One of two AAC players with fumble recovery for a touchdown during 2022
  • 11-yard fumble recovery TD came with 3:34 to play vs. Rice (Sept. 24)
  • Fumble recovery TD was first for a Cougar since Nov. 14, 2020
  • One of two Cougars with fumble recovery, forced fumble and interception
  • 32-yard interception in season opener at UTSA (Sept. 3)
  • Combined 12 tackles in back-to-back weeks at Memphis (Oct. 7) and Navy (Oct. 22)

 
As a Freshman (2021)

  • Appeared in 12 games on the defensive line, lining up at nose tackle
  • Single season career-highs in tackles (22), tackles for loss (3.5) and sacks (3)
  • Career-high 5.0 tackles in the Birmingham Bowl vs. Auburn (Dec. 28)
  • Fifth on the team in sacks with three

 
As a Redshirt Freshman (2020)

  • Saw limited action in two games
  • Made one tackle
  • 0.5 sacks and one tackle vs. Hawaii in New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 24)

 
As a Freshman (2019)

  • Played in four games
  • Made one tackle 
  • Recorded strip sack in win at Tulsa (Nov. 23)

 
High School

  • Four-star recruit by Rivals
  • No. 19 defensive end by Rivals
  • No. 33 player in the state of Texas by Rivals
  • Ridge Point’s all-time sacks leader (21.5)
  • Closed his career with 131 tackles and 38 tackles for loss and one interception
  • Seven forced fumbles and one fumble recovery
  • 40 tackles, 12 TFLs, seven sacks along with one forced fumble as a senior
  • 2018 All-District 20-6A
  • Helped Ridge Point to a 10-2 record
  • Helped Ridge Point to second round of Texas Class 6A Division I playoffs
  • Houston Touchdown Club’s 2018 All-Greater Houston Preseason Team
  • Unanimous first-team all-district 20-6A selection as a junior (2017)
  • 42 tackles with 14 tackles for loss as a junior
  • Seven sacks, four forced fumbles, three pass breakups and one interception as a junior
  • 2016 District 20-6A Defensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore
  • 55 tackles including 14 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks as a sophomore
  • Two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery as a sophomore
  • Coached by Brett Sniffin
  • Chose Houston over Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas Tech among others

2022

fumbles
REC LOST FUM
1.0 0.0 0.0
defensive
TFL QB HUR TOT TD PD SACKS SOLO
10.0 3.0 34.0 0.0 2.0 4.0 16.0
interceptions
TD AVG YDS INT
0.0 32.0 32.0 1.0

2021

defensive
TFL QB HUR TOT TD PD SACKS SOLO
4.0 3.0 22.0 0.0 0.0 3.5 13.0

2020

defensive
TFL QB HUR TOT TD PD SACKS SOLO
0.5 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0

Physical Attributes:

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Height: 6-2
Weight: 245
Forty: 4.76
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