Junior college transfer who became a full-time starter last season, winning All-Conference and All-American honors after producing 51/6/5. Started four games the prior season and posted 46 tackles.

Pos:

Athletic centerfielder with tremendous ball skills. Displays outstanding sideline-to-sideline range, shows good speed to the flanks and flashes on the scene, playing with a large degree of suddenness. Diagnoses the action, possesses a sense of timing and shows great hands going up for the interception. Plays with balance, body control and easily gets vertical or contorts in midair to defend the pass. Fluid pedaling in reverse, smooth flipping his hips and works well with cornerbacks. Possesses a closing burst and shows the ability to recover. Aggressive in run defense and sizes up ball carriers. Keeps the action in front of him and remains disciplined.

Neg:

Not strong at the point of attack. Misreads assignments on occasion.

CAREER: Has seen action in 11 games with four starts…

2006: Member of the Leadership Committee…

2005: Participated in all 11 regular-season contests with four starts (Georgia, Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Florida State) before injuring his knee during bowl practices…One of eight Gators to break the 40-tackle mark on the season, 32 of his 46 total tackles on the season were solo efforts…Finished second on the team with four quarterback sacks, for a net loss of 32 yards…One of 11 Gators to force a fumble during the 2005 campaign…Started the first game of his Gator career against Georgia and recorded a career-high seven tackles with three solo and four assisted efforts…Matched his career-high number of seven tackles in the Gators' overtime win against Vanderbilt, including four solo efforts…Notched seven tackles, including five solo, in Florida's victory over Florida State…

PRIOR TO FLORIDA: The Palm Bay All-American had been enrolled at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College since 2003…Helped the Red Ravens to No. 3 ranking in the final 2004 National Junior College Athletic Association poll in his only year playing for Coffeyville…Nelson was named the NJCAA National Player of the Week for October 26 for his part in Coffeyville's 86-0 win over Independence (Kan.) in the first round of the Region 6 playoffs…Nelson led the squad in tackles with 72 (37 solo and 35 assisted), intercepted six passes for 175 return yards, including one that was returned for a touchdown…He recovered two fumbles during the season and blocked four kicks…Coming out of Palm Bay High School in Melbourne, Fla., Nelson was a two-time first-team all-state (4A) honoree and a two-year starter…

MAJOR: Sociology.