Western Michigan defensive tackle transfer Mason Nelson has entered the transfer portal, and according to 247Sports‘ Allen Trieu, Minnesota is among five major programs that have shown “early interest” in him.
Listed at 6-foot-1 and 310 pounds, Mason Nelson is seeking a new home after spending four years at Western Michigan in Kalamazoo. In 2024, he logged 517 snaps and earned a 71.6 grade from Pro Football Focus (PFF), finishing the season with 30 total tackles and 2 sacks. Nelson has graduated but still has at least two seasons of eligibility left, having played in only two games as a true freshman in 2021.
Minnesota recently brought in Stony Brook transfer Rushawn Lawrence to bolster a defensive interior that already features returners Deven Eastern and Jalen Logan-Redding.
With limited depth behind that group, the Gophers appear eager to add another interior lineman this spring—and Nelson would be a significant pickup. They’ve also extended an offer to Ohio transfer Cam Rice.
While Minnesota may not be able to match the guaranteed playing time that schools like Utah, Pitt, Cincinnati, or Iowa State can offer, they do provide something those programs can’t: a chance for Nelson to compete in the Big Ten.
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