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Nebraska running back Mekhi Nelson faces an aggravated battery charge after Monroe County Sheriff’s Office records show he was arrested Monday in Key West, Florida. The alleged victim is pregnant.
Nebraska hasn’t said anything publicly about the arrest yet. Court records show Nelson is set to be arraigned on July 9 at 9 a.m.
The whole thing reportedly started over something pretty mundane. According to a police report obtained by KETV in Omaha, Nelson and the victim got into an argument about how long she was taking to get ready. Officers said the disagreement escalated from there, and the victim told police that Nelson scratched her, leaving visible injuries.
Nelson’s Role on the Field
Nelson was heading into his third year with the Cornhuskers. He’d carved out a rotational role last season, appearing in 12 games with one start.
He finished 2025 with 27 carries for 147 rushing yards and two touchdowns, good enough for second on the team in rushing. He also caught eight passes for 102 yards, showing he could contribute as a receiver too.
His breakout moment came early. Nelson scored his first career touchdown against Akron in Week 2, and that same game he posted career highs as a receiver with three catches for 52 yards. He wasn’t just a offensive weapon, either; he made a fumble recovery on kickoff coverage against Michigan State that set up a go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter.
Nelson saved his best game for last. In Nebraska’s Las Vegas Bowl matchup against No. 15 Utah, he got his first career start and made it count. He put together 136 total yards from scrimmage, rushing 12 times for 88 yards and a touchdown while adding three catches for 48 yards through the air.
That performance had him positioned well for the offseason. Nelson was competing for carries alongside sophomore Isaiah Mozee and true freshman Jamal Rule, part of what looked like an open competition at running back heading into next season.
How this arrest affects that competition, and his standing with the program, remains to be seen.
