2024: Named a Second Team All-CCIW pick, becoming the first Viking to earn five all-conference honors and just the second to earn All-CCIW honors in each of his four seasons ... His senior campaign stuffed the stat sheet from top to bottom as a linebacker, kick returner, and receiver when needed ... With 27 solo tackles and 10 assisted he ended the season with 37 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and 5 pass breakups ... Nieves finished 8th in the CCIW in kick return yards (334) and 6th in punt return yards (95) ... He scored one receiving touchdown as well as catching four passes for a total of 32 yards ... Nine tackled against Ripon (Sept. 7) and credited with a sack at Elmhurst (Sept. 28) ... Pair of games with two pass breakups.
All-CCIW writeup: Nieves continues to be a Swiss army knife for the Vikings.  He's a linebacker, a kick returner, and even a receiver at times with a receiving touchdown to his name - just a guy who Coach Kyle Rookercouldn't keep off the field. Whatever he was doing on the field, he did well, notching a 11th-ranked finish in pass breakups (5), top 5 finish in punt return yards (89), and top 10 in kickoff return yards (262). Nieves added a 12-yard sack and 3.5 tackles for loss to his CCIW resume. He is just the second Viking to earn an All-CCIW accolade in each of his four seasons, joining Viking Hall of Famer Gary Cassady.
2023: Was a double threat as both a return specialist and one of the Vikings’ top defenders … Third on the team with 46 tackles and tied for second with 34 solo tackles … Second on the team with six tackles for a loss of 25 yards … Had 1.5 sacks to his credit … Led the Vikings with six pass breakups … Blocked a kick.
Picked up Second Team All-CCIW honors … 46 tackles, 5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery in CCIW action … Added five pass breakups, which tied for 11th-most in the league, a pair of quarterback hurries, and blocked a kick at Carthage (Oct. 7) … Additionally, he had a 90-yard kick return touchdown against Illinois Wesleyan on Oct. 14, leading to CCIW Special Teams Player of the Week accolades.
2022: Selected as a First Team All-CCIW pick in two different categories; return specialist and defensive back … Averaged 28.29 yards per return, totaling 198 yards in his seven attempts … Accounted for the CCIW’s only punt return touchdown – alongside teammate Jaydin Miller – a 90-yarder against Millikin (9/24) … Added a 99-yard touchdown return on a kickoff against WashU (10/1) … As a DB, totaled three picks and 10 pass breakups in CCIW action … Added 40 tackles, six for loss, in the CCIW … He’s the first Viking return specialist named to the All-CCIW team since Michael Lee's first team honors in 2009 … Was a two-time CCIW Student-Athlete of the Week (9/26 & 10/3).
Had a kick return of 20+ yards against six different teams … Totaled 48 tackles, six for loss, and added 2.5 sacks for a loss of 22 yards … Forced one fumble, blocked two kicks, and added a quarterback hurry.
2021: Appeared in all 10 games at DB, recording 64 tackles (41 solo, 23 assisted), tying for the team lead in pass breakups with 11, and leading the Vikings in interceptions with 3 … Earned Second Team CCIW All-Conference … Recorded 10 tackles against Augustana (10/02) along with 2 forced fumbles … Had an interception against Carroll (10/09), starting a streak of 3 games where he recorded 1 interception … Registered 8 solo tackles, 1 interception, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack against Carthage (10/16) … Established a season-high 3 passe breakups against Elmhurst (10/23) including an interception returned for 47 yards … Had a season-high 11 tackles against Ill. Wesleyan (10/30) and recovered a fumble … Matched season-high 3 pass breakups against North Central (11/13), to go with 9 tacklesÂ
