Nelson A Two-Way Star In Saturday's Spring Game
- By Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
There were times, during Oregon’s Spring Game on Saturday, when sophomore Charles Nelson looked over to the sideline for a play call and got confused. Given that Nelson played both ways in his Team Pathway squad’s 35-29 win over Team Oregon, and was dubbed the game’s MVP by head coach Mark Helfrich, you hardly would have known.
Shifted to defense this spring after a standout freshman season on offense and special teams, Nelson did a bit of everything in the Spring Game. He caught five passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns, intercepted a pass and got in on three tackles for Team Pathway.
Not bad for a guy who has been on campus less than 12 months, and spent the last five weeks learning a new position. “My mentality has been that I’m a defensive player in spring ball right now, but I always have offense there,” Nelson said. “I know I can do it, because I always have, so let me learn something new.”
A year ago, Nelson was third on the Ducks in all-purpose yards with 1,017, as a slot back and returner. He added 16 tackles as perhaps Oregon’s best kick coverage player, and was named second-team all-Pac-12 for his special teams play.
Given Oregon’s returning depth at receiver, and lack thereof at cornerback, Nelson moved to the secondary this fall. Offensive coordinator Scott Frost implied Saturday that Nelson has taken up defense for good, but could still dabble as a two-way player.
Which, Nelson said, is OK with him. “It doesn’t really matter to me,” he said. “If they want me to play both ways, I can do that. If they want me to play defense, I can do that. I don’t really have a preference.”
Nelson’s interception Saturday came on a miscommunication between a quarterback and a receiver; the wideout broke off his route, the quarterback threw deep and Nelson was there for the over-the-shoulder catch.
Frost indicated Oregon fans could see more of that in the fall. “We gave him to the defense,” Frost said. “I think he’s got a great chance of starting and being a special player over there.”
Junior quarterback Jeff Lockie said he and Frost will lobby for Nelson’s services over the summer. Helfrich joked that the Ducks will consult the “collective bargaining agreement” to see how many of a game’s 60 minutes the team can use Nelson.
“He’s proven he can be a microwave situation, of jumping in and playing offense,” Helfrich said. “Hopefully that wakes up a few receivers that need to dial in the details. But he’s a fantastic football player.”
Nelson said the only hitch Saturday came when he was on offense, and had to remember signals he learned last season but hadn’t brushed up on this spring. Clearly there were no issues once the ball was snapped; he turned a short pass from Lockie into a 52-yard touchdown in the first quarter, and did so again for a 46-yard touchdown just before halftime.
“As the game went on I started remembering, and it took off,” Nelson said. “I felt really good going both ways. It’s something where, if you don’t want to do it, you’ll think you’re tried, whatever. If you want to do it, it’ll be easier. I don’t want to go out at all. That’s how I am.”
Based on Saturday’s Spring Game, the UO coaches won’t want Nelson leaving future games at all, too.
