​WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — The eighth annual Nexstar Sports Awards and Hall of Fame banquet opened at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2026, at D.L. Ligon Coliseum on the Midwestern State University campus. The Nexstar Sports Awards and Texoma Sports Hall of Fame have been honoring local athletic legends since their inception in 2019, recognizing the remarkable talents that have shaped Texoma’s athletic landscape and enshrining them among the region’s most influential players. Each year, the Nexstar Sports Awards ceremony adds a group of Texoma-connected athletes to the Nexstar Sports Hall of Fame, and the 2026 edition welcomed four individuals and one team as inductees.
Among those honored was David Nelson, a standout receiver whose career began in Texoma. Nelson first gained prominence in 2002 with the Petrolia Pirates, helping the team win a Class 2A State Championship. He later transferred to Rider, where he established himself as one of the school’s most prolific pass catchers. During his junior and senior seasons, Nelson totaled 144 receptions for more than 2,700 yards and 31 touchdowns, marks that remain school and district records. He earned All-State honors in 2003 and 2004, cementing his status as one of the top players in Texas high school football.
Nelson continued his football career at the University of Florida, contributing to two national championship teams. While in Gainesville, he recorded 46 receptions for 630 yards and seven touchdowns. After going undrafted in 2010, he signed with the Buffalo Bills and spent five seasons in the NFL, also spending time with the New York Jets. Across his professional career, Nelson accumulated 1,530 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
As a Texoma native who rose to the highest levels of high school, college, and professional football, David Nelson’s induction into Nexstar’s Texoma Sports Hall of Fame serves as a testament to his enduring impact on the region’s athletic heritage and his status as one of the area’s premier receivers and athletes. The Texoma Sports Hall of Fame, founded alongside the Nexstar Sports Awards, seeks to honor the local legends who left lasting legacies in Texoma athletics and to preserve their memories among the community’s most talented athletes.
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