About Jay: Is the son of Jon and Mary Nissen.
High School Highlights: Was a three-year letter winner for the Panthers. He earned Second Team All-State honors by the Iowa Newspaper Association as a junior before being named to the First Team as a senior. As a senior, he was also named the Iowa Sports Connection Defensive Line Eight-Man Defensive Player of the Year. He was also named Honorable Mention All-District as a sophomore before earning First Team recognition as a junior and senior.
In addition to football, he also earned four letters in track, three in basketball, and two in baseball. On the track, he placed fifth at the state meet in the 400m hurdles and 6th in the 110 high hurdles as a senior. He was also named a team captain. On the court, he was named a Cornbelt All-Conference Second Team selection and was a two-time All-Area performer by the Algona Upper Des Moines newspaper.
Aside from athletics, he was named Senior Class Salutatorian, was a member of the National Honor Society, was an Academic All-Conference selection in football and a two-time Academic All-District selection by the IHSAA. He also received the Bernie Sagaau Award as a senior.
College Highlights:
2013: Started all 10 games for the Beavers and was a key contributor for an offensive line that ranked third in the Iowa Conference in passing and red-zone efficiency. He hauled in five catches on the year for 49 yards, including a 20-yard TD grab against Wartburg.
2012: Appeared in all 10 games for the Beavers and hauled in a pair of catches for a total of 30 yards. He was also a vital part of an offensive line which posted 1,216 yards rushing for the year.
2011: Started the first seven games of his sophomore campaign, and chalked up a career-high two catches for 21 yards against Concordia-Moorhead.
2010: He saw most of his time with the junior varsity squad.
