 |
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — To say the homecoming was underwhelming was an understatement.
"It was definitely not the return to home," Scott Nelson said, "that I had planned."
Two years ago, for starters, he wasn't among them in the Wisconsin secondary. Because of a targeting penalty the week before, Nelson was forced to sit out the first half at Michigan, much to his disappointment since the Detroit native had circled this trip to Ann Arbor prior to the 2018 season.
As a prep, Nelson starred at University of Detroit Jesuit High School, a 45-minute drive from the Big House. Although he was offered by both the Wolverines and Michigan State, he opted to leave the state to play his college ball and ultimately chose Wisconsin over Iowa and Penn State.
After redshirting as a true freshman, Nelson earned a spot in the lineup alongside of D'Cota Dixon and started the first five games of '18 before incurring the targeting foul against Nebraska. After finally taking the field against the Wolverines in the third quarter, the night didn't end well for Nelson, either.
"I ended up pulling my hamstring on the third play," he said, sighing.
When he limped out of Michigan Stadium on Oct. 13, 2018, he trusted that there would be a return trip to Ann Arbor in his future and a second homecoming, hopefully much more rewarding than the first. That's what materialized on Saturday night, exceeding his expectations, much to his delight.
"Obviously there's a bigger purpose throughout all of this that I'm not really aware of," Nelson said, "and I just kind of trusted in God's plan that this — not exactly this — but everything would come full circle and I would see the example of what I was hoping for the first time."
Saturday was Nelson's first game action in 442 days. Or since blowing out his knee in the 2019 opener. And he didn't waste any time making his presence felt. On Michigan's first offensive snap, Joe Milton's pass to tight end Nick Eubanks was deflected by free safety Eric Burrell into the waiting hands of Nelson.
The Badgers scored four plays later and the rout was on. Nelson's interception turned out to be the tone-setter for Wisconsin's 49-11 domination of the Wolverines, who trailed 28-0 at halftime and suffered their worst home loss in 85 years. Or since November of 1935.
"That was a pretty good welcome back," said Nelson, who walked off the field smiling and waving. He waved to his family. He waved to his girlfriend. He waved to her family. "I waved to them in the stands a few times. That was the extent of it; the most connection I was able to get with them."
That was because of COVID protocol. But it didn't take away from the special moment.
"I was just happy to have my loved ones there to be able to see my first game back."
• • • •
The road back from ACL surgery was typically replete with highs and lows.
"Humbling was a word that came to mind," Nelson volunteered. "It taught me a lot about myself and what I value as a person. When you get the game of football taken away from you in that situation, it can challenge you mentally and obviously physically. My faith got much stronger."
During his rehab, Nelson was motivated, too, by Collin Wilder, a friend and teammate.
In 2017, Wilder had ACL surgery, two games into his sophomore year at Houston.
"The biggest thing was being there for him from a mental perspective," said Wilder, who transferred to Wisconsin in 2018. "I know how it feels to sit out a long time with an injury. You can feel like you're really not part of the team because you're busy doing rehab.
"Mentally, too, you can just feel like you want to be by yourself all the time because you feel like nobody else really knows how you're feeling at the moment. So, you really have to push yourself to do the extra things to be a part of the team.
"Like getting your rehab done early so you can go out to practice to be with the guys. Or just making sure you're hanging around in the locker room after practice."
Nelson welcomed the suggestions and the support.
"We've definitely built a stronger relationship over these last couple of years," he said of Wilder, a fifth-year senior and native of Katy, Texas. "Guys who have been there before (with knee rehab) make it easier for you to lean on them. You understand that you're not alone in this process.
"The biggest thing is just trying to make you feel included. Collin did a really a good job of that, not forgetting about me while I was hurt and trying to include me in everything. He helped me a huge amount.
"I tried to stay around the guys — Collin, EB and Reggie — to keep me in that game mode to try and prepare like I was still playing so I didn't lose that mental edge. Talking to former guys who have gone through it, they told me, 'Stay engaged and always keep your mind occupied with the game.'"
EB is the aforementioned Eric Burrell, a fifth-year senior. Reggie is Reggie Pearson, who has since been sidelined from football by a medical issue.
Nelson and Wilder are now rooming together along with quarterback Danny Vanden Boom.
"I was by myself last year," Wilder said, "and they would come over all the time and stay with me pretty much most of the night and then leave just to go to sleep at their place. Shoot, at this point, we thought, we might as well just live together. EB is right there with us when it comes to hanging out."
Another safety, John Torchio, is also in this mix of friends and competitors.
"We're always helping each other out and we're always competing and trying to make each other better," Wilder said. "Being able to hang out all the time off the field really helps with the chemistry on the field and with the communication.
"You just feel so much more comfortable knowing that the guy you're playing next to loves you and cares about you and is going to be there for you, no matter what. It's just a different sense of trust when you have a guy like that on the field with you."
The interesting dynamic is that Nelson and Wilder are both fighting for the same reps.
"It's not toxic with us competing," said Wilder, who started the opener against Illinois and tied for the team lead with four tackles. "We're both genuinely excited for each other making plays. We want the best for each other. Obviously, we're both competing … that's understood.
"We enjoy seeing each other succeed way too much for it to be awkward or uncomfortable living with each other. At the end of the day, we enjoy seeing each other's success too much, we care about each other too much."
• • • •
After Nelson picked off Milton, he returned to the sideline and gave a shout-out to "Z-Smoothie" — the late Zachary Winston, the younger brother of former Michigan State All-American point guard Cassius Winston. Zachary stepped in front of a train and was killed last November. He was 19.
Nelson and the Winstons were teammates on a Detroit Jesuit basketball squad that won the Class A state championship in March of 2016. Cassius Winston scored a game-high 31 points while Nelson came off the bench to add 13 points in a 69-49 victory over Farmington Hills.
Nelson has forever cherished those friendships and through thick-and-thin bonds.
When the Badger defense went back on the field Saturday night, he was immediately heard from again when he tackled tailback Blake Corum for a loss of 3 yards. Nelson's play again set the tone as linebacker Leo Chenal recorded UW's second interception in four plays on a third-and-long. Wisconsin countered with another score to go up, 14-0.
What was more satisfying to Nelson? The pick? Or the TFL?
"I would have to say the interception just because Coach (Jim) Leonhard was preaching about trying to make big plays and force turnovers," said Nelson. "Being able to get that on their first play — and EB made a really nice play — really set the tone for our defense and the whole team.
"We love early turnovers just to get our offense the ball as much as possible."
That Burrell and Nelson room together on the road is a bonus.
"We test each other and bounce questions off each other about the game plan, about the other team, just for confirmation, kind of cleaning things up in our head," said Nelson, who finished with five tackles at Michigan, tying for the team high. "So, when we get out there, we can play faster.
"Anything I can pick up from him, or help him with, or he helps me, it's just a huge advantage."
Former Badger safety D'Cota Dixon mentored both Burrell and Nelson.
"D'Cota definitely helped me and Scott big-time from the way he carried himself," Burrell said. "He always did it like a professional. He studied a lot of game film and figured out people's tendencies and the matchups. A shout-out to D'Cota for that."
On Monday, UW head coach Paul Chryst offered a shout-out to Nelson.
"It's a heck of a journey that a guy has to go through coming off injury," he said in reference to Nelson's rehab. "I've appreciated in an unconventional year how he has had to battle through everything, the injury and everything COVID-related.
"I loved the way he played the other night.
"I thought he played with confidence and trusted himself…
"When Scott is playing well, it's really good for our defense."
Burrell recognized Nelson's commitment to get back on the field after the injury.
"During the offseason, he was hitting it hard in the training room just trying to get back to 100 percent," said Burrell, the captain for the Michigan game. "He's a good leader on this team, especially in the DB room. He had a hell of a game. I'm definitely excited for him and the future for us."
Us being the defense. Us being the team. Us also being the safeties.
"Coach (Jim) Leonhard wants the DBs to be the most productive unit on defense," Burrell said. "We had a lot of young guys a couple of years ago. Now we're all older and making plays. We definitely grew up a lot and I'm happy and excited where this team is headed."
There is one notable catalyst for the success.
"Jim Leonhard … that guy there is a genius," Burrell gushed. "He gets a lot of credit and it's well-deserved. He studies film more than anybody. He's got a good defensive staff and they do a good job coming together and putting us in the best positions possible.
"It's up to us to go out there and execute the game plan.
"It's up to us if we want to make plays and that's what we've been doing the last two games."
"back" - Google News
November 19, 2020 at 07:04AM
https://ift.tt/2ISQONT
Lucas: Nelson's return 'a pretty good welcome back' - University of Wisconsin Badgers
"back" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2QNOfxc
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Lucas: Nelson's return 'a pretty good welcome back' - University of Wisconsin Badgers"
Post a Comment