2007: An All-Gateway Second-Team selection
... started every game and has started all 35 games of his career ... ranked third on the
team in tackles with 86, including 41 solo stops ... led the team in interceptions with
two, both of which came at Missouri against Heisman Trophy finalist Chase Daniel ... posted
three double-digit tackle games, including a career-best 14 stops at then-No. 1 North
Dakota State ... led the team in both kickoff and punt returns ... returned 31 kickoffs for
664 yards, including a long of 59 yards against Murray State ... fielded 16 punts and
totaled 95 return yards, including a season-best 25-yard return at Southern Illinois.
2006: An All-Gateway Second-Team selection ... started all 13 games on
the season ... led the team with four interceptions ... finished third in the conference in
passes defended with 14 ... hauled in first-two career interceptions at Kansas State ...
added his third in the next game against Central Arkansas ... also picked off a pass and
returned it for 34 yards against Western Illinois ... broke up 10 passes on the season ...
recorded a season-high nine tackles in a win at Western Kentucky.
2005: Gateway Freshman of the Year ... also named to the Gateway
All-Newcomer Team ... started all 11 games as a true freshman at free safety ... first
freshman to start in his first game since 1998 ... led the team in pass breakups ... ranked
sixth on the team in tackles ... had a career-high 10 tackles on Homecoming against Western
Kentucky ... forced and recovered a fumble on the same play at then-No. 1 Southern
Illinois.
John Hersey HS: A two-year starter ... as a senior, totaled 900 rushing
yards and scored nine touchdowns, while passing for 1,034 yards and eight touchdowns as an
option quarterback ... a two-time all-conference and all-area selection ... earned
all-state honorable mention honors as a senior ... as a junior, played in seven games and
gained 568 yards on 112 attempts with seven touchdowns, while throwing for 261 yards and 14
touchdowns ... coached by Mark Gunther ... also lettered in basketball and baseball ...
all-academic selection in football and basketball ... member of the honor roll.
Data: Born 12-4-86 in Hoffman Estates, Ill. ... son of Tom and Cheryl
Nelson ... one of four children ... his father, Tom, was a member of the golf team at
Northwestern ... major: marketing ... named once to the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll.
CAREER STATISTICS
Total185
| YEAR |
G-GS |
UT |
AT |
TFL |
Sacks |
INT |
FF |
FR |
QBH |
| 2005 |
11-11 |
28 |
29 |
57 |
2.5-6 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
| 2006 |
13-13 |
18 |
24 |
42 |
1-1 |
0-0 |
4-63 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
| 2007 |
11-11 |
41 |
45 |
86 |
3-5 |
0-0 |
2-33 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| TOTAL |
35-35 |
87 |
98 |
6.5-12 |
0-0 |
6-96 |
1 |
1 |
18 |
TD0
| YEAR |
KR |
YDS |
AVG |
LONG |
PR |
YDS |
AVG |
TD |
LONG |
| 2005 |
5 |
111 |
22.2 |
0 |
49 |
0 |
0 |
0 .0 |
0 |
0 |
| 2006 |
20 |
445 |
22.2 |
0 |
57 |
1 |
6 |
6.0 |
0 |
6 |
| 2007 |
31 |
664 |
21.4 |
0 |
459 |
16 |
95 |
05.9 |
0 |
25 |
| TOTAL |
56 |
1220 |
21.8 |
59 |
17 |
101 |
5.9 |
0 |
25 |
CAREER SINGLE-GAME HIGHS
Tackles: 14 at North Dakota State, 11-3-07
Interceptions: 2, twice
Kickoff Returns: 8 at North Dakota State, 11-3-07
Kickoff Return Yards: 150 at North Dakota State, 11-3-07
Longest Kickoff Return: 59 vs. Murray State, 9-8-07
Punt Returns: 3, three times
Punt Return Yards: 27 vs. Murray State, 9-8-07
Longest Punt Return: 25 at Southern Illinois, 11-10-07
