For ECU’s Philip Nelson, Athlon Sports’ No. 12-ranked transfer quarterback, the first hurdle of 2016 is already cleared. After Kurt Benkert transferred, Nelson’s main competition for the starting QB job was out of the picture. That effectively gives him the job going forward. Now that that business is out of the way, Nelson and the Pirates are focused on getting ready for the upcoming season.
With that in mind, what can we expect from Nelson this season?
Taking the Long Way
Nelson’s path to ECU was anything but typical. A fifth-year senior, ECU is Nelson’s third landing spot since he was Minnesota’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2011. Nelson spent his first two college seasons in his home state, playing eighteen games for Minnesota. Nelson had middling results in his sixteen starts with the Golden Gophers, throwing for 2179 yards while completing exactly 50 percent of his passes (169 of 338) with 17 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He also showed a flair for running the football, rushing for 548 yards and six touchdowns.
Then, things got ugly.
After his sophomore season, Nelson had decided to transfer to Rutgers. He never played a down for the Scarlet Knights, though, because he was dismissed after being charged with felony assault after kicking Isaac Kolstead, a former University of Minnesota-Mankato player, in the head as Kolstead was lying on the ground after being punched by another man at a Mankato bar. The altercation left Kolstead with permanent brain damage and was a permanent black mark on the record of Nelson. He eventually plead guilty to a fifth-degree misdemeanor assault, avoiding jail time with 100 hours of community service.
The incident led to Nelson enrolling at ECU, where he made Ruffin McNeill’s team as a walk-on last spring. Since that point, Nelson has made the most of his second chance, winning over teammates and coaches alike with his attitude and play. By all accounts, it appears Nelson has done his best to move forward. Getting back on the field has been a vital part of that process, and Nelson has no doubt gotten a huge boost from his time at ECU.
The next step in that process will be the regular season, where Nelson will have the chance to put his off the field issues on the backburner and attempt to rebuild some of his reputation on the field.
Game Reset
In a way, Nelson having to start all over again once Scottie Montgomery and his new staff came in was the best thing that could have happened to him. Of all the things ECU offered, the clean slate and opportunity to try to revive his career was probably the most beneficial.
Still though, he couldn’t have envisioned a better fit than he now has with Montgomery and offensive coordinator Tony Petersen. The new Pirate offense is predicated on attacking. Petersen, formerly at Louisiana Tech and Marshall, is known for developing and raising his quarterbacks to the next level. Montgomery was also known for his offensive prowess at Duke, guiding the Blue Devil offense to some of the program’s best seasons statistically. What they have in Nelson is not just a talented dual-threat quarterback, but an experienced veteran who has seen action in a Power 5 conference. That fact alone separates him from most other AAC quarterbacks. While his stats at Minnesota aren’t necessarily anything to write home about, Nelson still finds himself in the position of being able to putting his skill set to work in an offense that better suits his abilities.
At 6-foot-1, 219 pounds, Nelson has the prototypical quarterback look, but possesses a good deal of speed, clocking in with a 4.5 40 time during workouts with the Pirates. He also earned “Elite Pirate” status during his workouts this spring. Nelson has all the tools to be a serviceable option behind center for ECU in 2016, but what stands out the most is his decision making with the ball. He won the “Respect the Ball” award during spring practice for his ability to protect the football, the importance of which will be paramount in gaining confidence and providing a calming influence for a still young Pirate team.
In terms of expectations for the upcoming season, if Nelson’s performance this spring is any indication, then the Pirates should be optimistic about the offense. When you combine Nelson’s ability and experience with Petersen’s scheme, it’s reasonable to assume that the Pirate passing game will be solid in 2016. Peteresen’s last two offenses averaged 6.9 yards per play in 2015 and 5.86 in 2014, while passing for a combined total of 7,732 yards and 58 touchdowns.
Under Montgomery, the Pirates probably won’t be as pass happy, opting instead for a more ball-control heavy style initially. But once everything comes together, and with Nelson’s progress that is already way ahead of schedule, the Pirate offense should expect consistent production from their quarterback in 2016.
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