Nelson staying home

After picking up a number of scholarship offers this spring, Cedar Rapids Xavier defensive end Matt Nelson thoroughly researched all of his options, but kept coming back to the school just down the road from home. That, of course, is Iowa, which is where the 6-foot-7, 249-pound Nelson committed to today, picking the Hawkeyes over Notre Dame and Stanford, among others.

Nelson, who visited all three of his finalists in recent weeks, announced his decision on Twitter this morning.

Proud to be a Hawkeye! #gohawks- Matt Nelson (@m_nelson33) June 27, 2013

Along with Iowa, Nelson held scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Stanford, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa State, Arkansas, San Diego State, Rice, Northern Colorado, and South Dakota State.

As a junior at Xavier, the three-star prospect finished the season with 47 tackles, 20 TFL, and 11 sacks on defense to go along with 14 catches for 162 yards and eight touchdowns playing tight end on offense.

The verbal pledge from Nelson today is commitment number nine for the Iowa coaching staff in the Class of 2014.