DaKaari Nelson

#19· NC State ·LB ·Sr ·2027 Draft · Livingston, AL

6'3"Height 232 lbWeight

Representation

Athletes First AgentCarlos Hudson Jr. Confirmed

AthleteHigh CeilingPlug-and-PlayProject

Edit

Overview Background Scouting Stats Media & News

High School Background

★★★★

Stars

#171

National

#12

Position

#14

State

HometownLivingston, AL

High SchoolSelma

Transfer History

Penn State NC State 2026 ★★★

#993

National

#60

Position

High School Offers 19

Alabama Appalachian State Arkansas Auburn Clemson Duke Florida State Georgia Georgia Tech Kansas Kentucky Michigan Mississippi State Penn State South Carolina Southern Miss Tennessee Texas A&M Vanderbilt

SCOUTSZN

Scouting Report

July 29, 2026

DaKaari Nelson #19

NC State · LB · Sr · 2027 Draft · Livingston, AL · Selma

6-3 · 232 lbs

4.4

UDFA

Floor 4.1 · Ceiling 4.7

#2646 overall · #329 LB of 15102

Scouting Verdict

A former 4-star (No. 171) safety-turned-linebacker projected to start at OLB out of need, but his Penn State tape is almost entirely special teams (~5 tackles a year). A pedigree-and-projection bet for a gutted LB room — the talent is real, the production isn't.

Ceiling · 4.7

Projected 2026 starter (LB1) — real opportunity to climb; close to ceiling (+0.3) · up-year team · ACC draft-temper · LB lower-value.

Floor · 4.1

Proven starter — high, stable floor · returning-starter role secures it; downside −0.3.

Pedigree

4★ recruit · Natl #171 · Pos #12 · State #14

Path: Penn State → NC State

Profile Tags

AthleteHigh CeilingPlug-and-PlayProject

College Production

Season	Team	GP	Tot	Solo
2025	Penn State Nittany Lions	4	5	4
2024	Penn State Nittany Lions	3	5	4