Scott Nelson: Path To The NFL Draft

By Callum Squires

In the Nelson family, being a college athlete is pretty much a guarantee. Howard played football and Linda ran track, both at Saginaw Valley State. Eldest son Adam played football at Alma College, and daughter Erin was a basketball player at Albion College. But one – the youngest – stands above the others.

Scott Nelson was a standout Safety for the Wisconsin Badgers over the last few college football seasons. Despite missing almost the entirety of 2019 (through a leg injury sustained in their season-opener against USF), Nelson returned at the height of his powers, performing well in 2020 and 2021, before wowing NFL Draft scouts in his Badgers’ Pro Day last month. Now, Scott has his eyes set on the NFL Draft. He sat down with me to talk about family, fighting through adversity, and the toughness he has which has set him on his Path to the NFL Draft.

Growing Up In Detroit

Scott with his family

Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Scott Nelson was able to reach heights that had eluded the other members of his nonetheless very athletically talented family:

“Growing up, sports were a big part (of life). I was the youngest of three; Dad played football, Mum ran track, both Division II, then both my older siblings played Division III, so I am the odd Division I athlete out.”

Nelson told me this with almost a wry smile on his face. Five members of the family, five collegiate athletics success stories. Scott, however, is certainly not arrogant about the Division I talent he became, and is both proud and respectful to the DII and DIII paths his parents and siblings took. Sports definitely helped form the individual that Scott Nelson is today:

“They (sports) were a huge part of our life; I don’t wanna say that’s what our lives were centred around, but my Mom and Dad were picking us up, dropping us off, taking us to a bunch of different places. Sports, competing, playing snow football, stuff like that was very normal to us and sort of formed who we are.”

High School Star

Credit: Rivals.com

From a young age, Nelson knew that sports were a passion and potential career path for him, but there was no guarantee which road was going to lead him there. I guess, when you come from the kind of genetic stock the Nelson family does, multiple opportunities were always going to present themselves:

“It wasn’t just the NFL. It was more broad I guess; it was what I wanted, to be a professional athlete. I didn’t really know what sport, but that was my goal. Even going into high school I still wasn’t really sure.”

Nelson played both basketball AND baseball alongside football in high school, as well as being an honour roll student in the classroom. But it soon became apparent that one of his athletic interests was most likely to lead to a future career than the others:

“After my first season of high school football I was kinda like ‘okay, I think football’s the sport. I think this is the sport I have the best chance at, and this is the sport where I can be best at.’ That’s how it formed and it was set in motion. My junior year my recruiting took off and surprised some people.”

With 164 tackles and 10 INTs across his four-year varsity career, Nelson was twice named All-Detroit by Detroit News, and began to draw attention from college coaches across the nation. 

Recruiting, And Choosing Madison

Nelson told me how he enjoyed the early stages of the recruitment process, getting to meet coaches and potential teammates from across the nation. But, as we all should note more often, the decision making process isn’t necessarily a simple one: 

“It was really fun! When you’re getting all the offers and talking to coaches it was really fun, but once it got down to decision making time it was pretty stressful. Once I was able to settle down and trust my gut and say ‘okay I really love Wisconsin; this is where I should be,’ then I felt a lot better.”

Nelson was recruited by both Michigan State and Wisconsin, amongst others, but said that after visiting Wisconsin, Madison felt like home, despite some family ties to Michigan State: 

“I grew up in the Midwest, I was a Big Ten kid, I wanted to go and play in the Rose Bowl… I grew up a Michigan State fan, my Uncle went there, that was kinda just the place we liked. But then, on my visit… It just seemed different at Wisconsin. The interactions were just very genuine. A bunch of their coaching staff played there, graduated from there, and came back. That told me something about the people; they wanna be there, they wanna help. That was something I wanted to be a part of.”

Wisconsin: Success & Heartache

Credit: FanSided

The Badgers got their man, and after redshirting his freshman year, Scott Nelson immediately contributed during the 2018 season, starting 8 of the 9 games he played in. The 8-5 season culminated in an absolute rout of the Miami Hurricanes in the Pinstripe Bowl, where Nelson helped the Badgers defense hold the ‘Canes to just 48 passing yards, 3 points, and intercepting Miami 4 times. Sure, Jonathan Taylor rushing for over 200 yards helped, but Wisconsin’s 35-3 victory was also heavily down to Nelson and the defense.

Leading into 2019, Nelson was flying high, returning as a starter looking to continue to build his profile, but before he could get going, disaster struck. A leg injury in the opening game of the 2019 season would sideline Nelson for the rest of the year. Nelson told me this was the first significant injury of his career, aside from the occasional niggles everyone plays through. Dealing with the loss of the season was hard to take:

“It was very difficult, and frustrating. All of those emotions going through (my head), and not really understanding what was going on. But, understanding you worked so hard to get to this point so, despite how devastating it was, it would be even more of a tragedy to just stop and give up all that work that you put in.” 

Staying strong in the face of this adversity was not easy, but Nelson had the intrinsic motivation to fight through it:

“It was a big deciding factor in ‘okay, what do you wanna do with this? How seriously do you wanna take this?’ You could very easily give up, or not attack every day with that same mindset that you would have if you were practicing or playing games. That was a big learning curve for me. It allowed me to reflect on myself, and the player and man I wanna be.”

Nelson bounced back from the injury and was able to play in the heavily covid-impacted 2020 season, winning the Duke’s Mayo Bowl 42-28 over Wake Forest, a game in which Nelson had a 60 yard interception return. In 2021 the Badgers were the  #1 statistical defense in the nation, with Nelson being an essential cog in that unit stifling opposing offenses. Nelson told me he tried to remain grounded through the Badgers’ success by taking nothing for granted, and embracing the responsibility of representing Wisconsin:

 

“Anytime you’re able to come back and play college football, and just be around the guys, that atmosphere on Saturdays, making plays in that full stadium… we always talked about controlling 80,000 people’s emotions… like, we get to do that! That’s a very rare feeling. Trying not to take those moments for granted was a big thing.” 

 

Nelson capped his career helping the Badgers to a 20-13 victory in the Las Vegas Bowl over Arizona State. Nelson did technically still have one more year of college eligibility (the “covid year”) but decided instead to forgo this, and declare for the NFL Draft. Nelson finished his career as a 3 year starter for the Badgers, and recorded 125 tackles & 4 INTs.

 

Pro Day & Packers Workout

That all led to Nelson’s Pro Day, which caused massive intrigue. His performance was so explosive, that it caused a significant stir for scouts ‘in the know,’ helping him rapidly move up draft boards across the NFL.

“Yeah it was very fun. I was able to do very well, and I’m very happy with all the numbers that I was able to put out. The big thing was it gave people another chance to look at my film, and ask questions, reach out to Coach (Jim) Leonhard and ask different stuff that they may not have previously. It was a little weird; that’s pretty much the only time I’m ever going to do that type of training. I won’t run another 40 (he chuckles)!”

And why would you feel the need to run another 40, when the first one clocked in at a rapid 4.38 seconds?! Nelson was unanimously ranked in the top 10% of safeties in tests like vertical jump, broad jump and the 3-cone drill. The success of Nelson’s Pro Day earned him a ton of plaudits, and an opportunity to work out with the Green Bay Packers. Nelson’s level-headed nature helped him remain calm through an exciting, yet potentially intimidating opportunity:

“Same thing – it was really fun. I knew some guys up there who were working out as well. Anytime you get to work out for a team, or even talk, or go through this process (with a team like Green Bay)… not many people get to do it. You have to continue to remind yourself how special of an opportunity this is. That’s what I tried to do; understand that this isn’t really normal, don’t take this opportunity for granted, and go out there and have fun. Don’t stress too much, don’t put too much on your plate where you’re not being yourself… just go out and enjoy it.”

Focused On The Draft

Credit: Mark Hoffman / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA Today Sports

As the draft itself now looms large, Nelson is keeping his feet on the ground, seemingly happy with his career, and film, and his work through this process so far. I asked him what, if anything, he would tell any team who asked what they would be getting if they drafted or signed Scott Nelson:

“I would just tell them I’m a big ‘Team First’ guy, and whatever I need to do to help the team win, I’m willing to do it. I’ll embrace whatever role I have and continue to compete and push to make anybody I can better. I’m constantly trying to learn and improve so if a different role comes up I’m able to fill it.” 

I asked Scott if he had specific plans for a draft party but, in an answer in-keeping with his humble and thoughtful tone through our discussion, he down-played the necessity for pomp and circumstance:

“I don’t wanna make too big of a deal, with my late round, possibly undrafted situation, but just kind of (try to) enjoy it, be with the people I’m closest with and have fun.”

Don’t mistake his understated nature off the field with what you’re going to get on it. Scott Nelson will bring his intensity, thirst for competition, and deep desire to learn and grow to the NFL. If other Wisconsin defensive products are anything to go by, Nelson could be a diamond in the rough amongst the late rounds of this draft. I really hope somebody gives him a shot. 

CALLUM SQUIRES

NFL ANALYST

CALLUM IS FROM LONDON, BUT PLAYED COLLEGE SOCCER AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WHERE HE LEARNED NEVER TO CHEER FOR THE COWBOYS. NOW RESIDING STATESIDE, CALLUM IS A LONG-SUFFERING DOLPHINS FAN WHO BELIEVES THE TUA HYPE. FIND HIM ON TWITTER @CALLUMJDSQUIRES

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A huge thank you to Scott for taking the time to talk to us. Everyone at The Touchown wishes him well in his future career.