It’s hard to argue that the biggest standout of Oregon’s Spring Game was two-way player Charles Nelson. The sophomore’s speed and athleticism was felt on both sides of the ball, dazzling more than 35,000 fans in attendance.
Head coach Mark Helfrich praised Nelson after the game, impressed by his knowledge and leadership for such a young player.
“He was out there lining up guys on offense. That’s how much he knows our system already,” Helfrich said, confident in Nelson’s duel ability, “That’s why we felt comfortable moving him in the beginning. If we needed to flip him back, today happens.”
Before the Spring Game, FishDuck.com sports reporter Jordan Ingram asked Nelson what his goals were entering the game. He foreshadowed his performance, simply saying, “Just try to make plays, whether it be with special teams, defense, offense, whatever they have me do. Just go out there and make plays — give it my all with 100% effort.”
Charles Nelson makes an impact at any position he plays.
Nelson did just that and was a favorite target for quarterback Jeff Lockie, on 5 receptions for 144 yards, in addition to 2 touchdowns. Defensively, Nelson was similarly effective, recording 3 tackles and making an incredible, acrobatic interception as a defensive back.
As FishDuck.com sports writer Caleb Couturie noted, Nelson was the best athlete on the field both offensively and defensively. While the stats show how effective he was, the eye test demonstrates how Nelson’s explosive athleticism makes him one of the most intriguing young players coming out of Spring football.
Nelson has proven that he can play multiple positions, as he was a special teams standout last year. The question is — what positions will he play this season?
All Spring, Oregon coaches have indicated that Nelson is making the transition to defense. During the Spring Game, he was regularly looking to the sideline for help. It’s obvious that he’s still learning the position, but at the snap of the ball, Nelson’s ability has proven he can fill a defensive gap in the lineup.
Oregon’s depth on offense is the main reason for the switch. It’s not that Nelson is an ineffective receiver, as evidenced by the his performance, but a focus on defense will allow him maximum playing time.
Still, after Saturday’s game, we may see some situational offensive appearances for Nelson this season. Helfrich said after the game, “He’s proven he can be an immediate microwave situation of jumping in and playing offense.”
Whatever the case may be, there is a bright future for Nelson as an Oregon Duck. As the star of Saturday’s game, Nelson has started his sophomore year with a bang.
Top Photo by Kevin Cline
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Forrest is currently a junior at the University of Oregon with a focus in journalism. As a Colorado native, his interest in sports began with a passion for the Denver Broncos. He also follows the San Antonio Spurs, Seattle Mariners, Nebraska football, FC Bayern Munich, and of course – the Oregon Ducks. His goal is ultimately to become a sports writer and cover a team he loves. In his spare time, he loves playing sports video games and running in the beautiful city of Eugene. Always excited to discuss sports with fellow Duck fans, Forrest is thrilled to be a member of FishDuck.com.