Jonathan Nelson (born May 6, 1988) is a former

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

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for the

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of the

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(NFL). He was drafted by the

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in the seventh round of the

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. He played

college football College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States. Unlike most ...

at the

University of Oklahoma The University of Oklahoma (OU) is a Public university, public research university in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it had existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two Territories became the state of Oklahom ...

Early years

Nelson attended Summit High School in Arlington, Texas. He was a three-year starter at cornerback. According to his coaches opponents threw away from his side of the field and as a result he ended the season with only one interception.Oklahoma Sooners bio
The previous season he made 40 tackles and recovered four fumbles and recorded one interception. Nelson was a sprinter on the track team.

College career

In his first year at Oklahoma, he redshirted the 2006 season. As a redshirt freshman in

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, Nelson played in just two games due to injury. As a sophomore, he played on special teams, making seven tackles on the season. Nelson began the 2009 season as a nickel back, but started the final three games of the season and recorded 46 tackles and three interceptions. He was chosen honorable mention All-Big 12. After spending his career as a backup, Nelson broke out as a senior, making 102 tackles, breaking up seven passes and intercepting two more. He was rewarded by being selected All-Big 12 Honorable Mention for the second consecutive season.

Professional career

2011 NFL Draft

St. Louis Rams

Nelson was drafted with the 229th pick in the

by the

. He was waived during final roster cuts on September 3, 2011, but was re-signed to the team's

practice squad In sports, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. Frequently used in gridiron football, they serve as extra players during the team's practices, ...

on September 4. He was released from the practice squad on September 13.

Carolina Panthers

Nelson was signed to the Panthers' practice squad on November 16, 2011. He was promoted to the active roster by the

on December 23, 2011. He appeared in the final two games of the regular season, recording nine tackles and one interception in the games combined. In week 16 of the 2011 season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers he was named the NFC Defensive Rookie of the Week after recording seven tackles and one interception.

References

External links

Oklahoma Sooners bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nelson, Jonathan 1988 births Living people Players of American football from Texas Oklahoma Sooners football players American football safeties St. Louis Rams players Carolina Panthers players