Along with Poona Ford, Lakeland (FL) Victory Christian Academy tackle Chris Nelson was a true life saver for the position that looks thinner by the day. Unlike Ford, Nelson is more of an unfinished project who reminds me of former Longhorn Chris Whaley.
Nelson looks like a very raw athlete who has settled in to the tackle position after playing fullback and linebacker. Nelson who is ranked as a three star by Rivals doesn’t appear on any state or national rankings. His versatility and athleticism give you a lot more to dream on as to what he could be. At 6’3 280lbs, Nelson is a great canvas on which to paint a defensive tackle. The one time Louisville commit chose Texas over offers from South Florida, Central Florida, Missouri, and Nebraska.
When you look at Nelson on tape, you can see a lot of things from him. He can be a one gap penetrator with better technique, or a two gap speed bump in the middle of a three-man front. You can see a guy who’s just a rotational player or a guy who maximizes his athleticism to pressure quarterbacks in a big time passing league. Let’s take a look at what the tape says about Chris Nelson.
Film Analysis:Â
His athleticism shows up with his ability to move laterally and change direction in pursuit of a play. His long arms allow him to dictate the battle up front but he needs to learn how to use them better. His first step is adequate, and his strength on the bull rush is great when he plays with the proper technique. At 6’3 he struggles to tackle ball carriers low and usually wraps them up at the shoulders. Nelson shows the ability to see through the traffic, recognize the play, and pursue in any direction. His ability to open up and run down the line is impressive for a man of his size. He plays high and loses battles to linemen with good technique because of it. Without knowing his defense’s schemes he seems to read his keys quickly and react in a disciplined manner. Good frame with the ability to pack on the right weight and add strength.
Final Verdict:Â
Chris Nelson is the one who will decide how far Chris Nelson goes. Many of his inadequacies can be corrected with proper coaching, and learning to use his hands and leverage along with playing lower and refining his tackling will be up to him to learn and apply to his game. His athleticism makes him a high ceiling guy that could potentially be a multiple time all-conference player, but his raw technique gives him a low floor if he doesn’t put in the work to get better. There are a lot of tools there to like, but he needs some major shaping in the weight room and on the practice field. Nelson will probably need a redshirt year to put all of these things to work and should take advantage of it.
