[align=center]Jordy Nelson | Wide Receiver | Kansas State | 6'3" - 217 lbs.
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OVERVIEW
From walk-on to strong safety to one of the premier receivers in the collegiate ranks, Nelson has come a long way since his days at Riley County High School. His banner senior campaign saw him shatter school and Big Twelve Conference reception records, catching at least ten passes six contests during the 2007 campaign.

For his stellar performances, Nelson became just the ninth player in school history to be named a consensus All-American in his final year, becoming the first KSU player to accomplish that feat since Terence Newman in 2002. He will leave Kansas State holding eleven different receiving records.

Nelson lettered three times as a quarterback and defensive back at Riley County High School. He was named first-team Class 3A All-State at quarterback by the Topeka Capital-Journal and was a second-team All-State selection for all divisions at both quarterback and defensive back. He was chosen Flint Hills Player of the Year by the Manhattan Mercury and was a two-time All-Mid-East League first-team pick. He also played in the 2003 Kansas Shrine Bowl.

As a senior, Nelson connected on 62 percent of his passes for 1,029 yards and eight touchdowns. He rushed for 1,572 yards (9.8 avg) and scored 25 times on the ground that year. In his junior campaign, he passed for 1,045 yards and rushed for 730 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Nelson also lettered and started in basketball and track. He averaged 17.2 points on 58-percent shooting as a senior and set school career records for blocks (161), steals (225) and assists (325). He was named first-team All-State and the Manhattan Mercury's Flint Hills Player of the Year. He won the Class 3A track titles in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump at the 2003 state meet, and set division records in the 100 meters (10.63) and 200 meters (21.64).

Despite his impressive prep career, Nelson walked on at KSU in 2003. He competed on the scout team at strong safety over the next two years, but never got on the playing field. With the KSU receiving unit depleted by graduation, Nelson asked to move to that unit in 2005. He was a second-team All-Big Twelve Conference choice that year, leading the team with 45 receptions for 669 yards (14.9 avg) and eight touchdowns, adding another score by recovering a blocked punt in the end zone for a score vs. Texas A&M. During the season, he became the first player in school history to catch at least one touchdown in his first seven games.

He started nine of thirteen games in 2006, leading the squad with 39 catches for 547 yards (14.0 avg), scoring one touchdown. He also got to see some time at quarterback, completing one of two passes for 28 yards.

The consensus All-American shattered school and Big Twelve Conference season-records in 2007, hauling in 122 passes for 1,606 yards (13.2 avg) and eleven touchdowns. He scored twice on five punt returns for 264 yards (52.8 avg) and registered a school record 140 points. He hit on 2-of-4 passes for 45 yards and a pair of touchdowns, finishing with 1,863 all-purpose yards, an average of 155.25 yards per game.

In 36 games at Kansas State, Nelson started 32 contests. He ranks second in school history with 206 receptions for 2,822 yards (13.7 avg) and is third all-time in KSU annals with 20 touchdown grabs. He returned six punts for 267 yards (44.5 avg) and three scores, as he also completed 3-of-6 passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns, adding seven tacklers (6 solos) on special teams. He finished with 3,080 all-purpose yards, an average off 85.56 yards per game.

CAREER NOTES
Nelson ranks second in school history with 206 receptions...His 206 catches are good for ninth on the Big Twelve Conference career-record chart...His 2,822 yards receiving are surpassed only by Kevin Lockett's 3,032 on KSU's career-record list and rank eighth in conference annals...Ranks third in Wildcats history with 20 touchdown catches...Nelson's 122 receptions in 2007 shattered the old school season-record of 75 by Darnell McDonald in 1998 and the previous Big Twelve mark of 107 grabs by Rashaun Woods of Oklahoma State in 2002...Gained 1,606 yards receiving in 2007, breaking the old school record...His 1,606 yards rank second in Big Twelve history behind Rashaun Woods of Oklahoma State's 1,695 yards in 2002... His eleven touchdown catches in 2007 rank fourth on the KSU season-record list...His 140 points scored in 2007 broke the previous school season-record of 135 by Martin Gramatica in 1998...His fifteen receptions vs. Missouri State, fourteen catches vs. Iowa State and fifteen grabs vs. Fresno State, all in 2007, topped the school's previous game-record of thirteen catches by Michael Smith vs. Missouri in 1989...Gained 209 yards receiving vs. Missouri State and 214 yards vs. Iowa State in 2007, breaking the previous KSU game-record of 206 yards by Darnell McDonald vs. Syracuse in 1997...His three touchdown receptions in the 2007 Oklahoma State clash tied the school game-record...His 92-yard punt return vs. Baylor in 2007 was the fourth-longest punt return in school history.

2007 SEASON
Consensus All-American and unanimous All-Big Twelve Conference first-team choice as a receiver, adding All-Big Twelve honorable mention on special teams...Finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver...Selected Big Twelve Conference Offensive Player of the Year by The NFL Draft Report...Started all twelve games at split end, shyattering school and conference season-records with 122 receptions for 1,606 yards (13.2 avg) and eleven touchdowns...Sixteen of his catches were for 20 yards or longer...Lost 7 yards on three carries, but made the most of his limited opportunities as a punt returner, as he amassed 264 yards with two touchdowns on five attempts (52.8 avg) and also recorded four tackles (3 solos)...Completed 2-of-4 passes for 45 yards, as both of his completions were good for touchdowns...Set a school season-record with 140 points scored...Gained 1,863 all-purpose yards...Ranked second in the nation with an average of 133.83 yards receiving per game, also ranking second nationally in receptions per game (10.17) and 20th in all-purpose yardage (155.25 ypg).

2006 SEASON
Nelson appeared in all thirteen games, starting nine contests...Led the team with 39 receptions for 547 yards (14.0 avg), with one TD...Added a 3-yard PR and completed 1-of-2 passes for 28 yards...Also recorded a solo tackle vs. Iowa State.

2005 SEASON
All-Big Twelve Conference second-team choice by the Kansas City Star, adding honorable mention from the league's coaches and AP...Started all eleven games...Led the team with 45 receptions for 669 yards (14.8 avg) and eight TDs, becoming the first KSU player to record a touchdown in his first seven college games...Lost 2 yards on a reverse vs. Nebraska and recovered a blocked punt for a TD vs. Texas A&M...Added two solo tackles and scored 54 points.

2004 SEASON
Suited up at strong safety, but did not get to see any game action.

2003 SEASON
Joined the team as a walk-on, performing on the scout team as a strong safety.

CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.59 in the 40-yard dash...280-pound bench press...31-inch vertical jump...32 ?-inch arm length...10-inch hands...Right-handed.

COMBINE AGILITY TESTS
4.51 in the 40-yard dash...1.57 10-yard dash...2.64 20-yard dash...4.35 20-yard shuttle...11.53 60-yard shuttle...7.03 three-cone drill...31-inch vertical jump...10'3" broad jump.

HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Riley (Kan.) County High School, playing football for head coach Steve Wagner...Lettered three times as a quarterback and defensive back...Named first-team Class 3A All-State at quarterback by the Topeka Capital-Journal and was a second-team All-State pick for all divisions at both quarterback and defensive back...Chosen Flint Hills Player of the Year by the Manhattan Mercury and was a two-time All-Mid-East League first-team choice...Also played in the 2003 Kansas Shrine Bowl...As a senior, Nelson connected on 62 percent of his passes for 1,029 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed for 1,572 yards (9.8 avg) and scored 25 times on the ground that year...In his junior campaign, he passed for 1,045 yards and rushed for 730 yards and 16 touchdowns...Also lettered and started in basketball and track...Averaged 17.2 points on 58-percent shooting as a senior and set school career records for blocks (161), steals (225) and assists (325)...Named first-team All-State and the Manhattan Mercury's Flint Hills Player of the Year...Won the Class 3A track titles in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump at the 2003 state meet, and set division records in the 100 meters (10.63) and 200 meters (21.64).

PERSONAL
Secondary Education major...Hopes to teach and coach once his playing days are over...Son of Kim and Alan Nelson...Born 5/31/85 in Manhattan, Kansas...Resides in Riley, Kansas.

WR Nelson Often Made Big Impact

In the eyes of Packers scout Lenny McGill, Kansas State receiver Jordy Nelson didn't have a signature, standout game at the collegiate level.

He had a whole bunch of them, and his consistent, go-to production led to a high evaluation from the Packers, who drafted Nelson with their first selection, the 36th overall, in Saturday's NFL Draft.

"For me this was one player that there wasn't one game," said McGill, who scouts the Central Plains region for Green Bay. "Week in and week out he was consistently just making plays, on a team that really didn't have a lot of offensive weapons.

"Teams they played against, it was their focus to stop Jordy Nelson. You basically stop him, you beat Kansas State, and in spite of all that, week in and week out he would make plays. Every week he did his thing."

Particularly last year as a senior. In 2007, Nelson earned consensus All-American honors with 122 receptions for 1,606 yards and 11 touchdowns. The reception and yardage totals both set school records, while the number of catches also set a Big 12 Conference mark and the yardage number ranks second in league history.

Nelson's consistency was reflected in catching eight or more passes in 10 of 12 games, and 10 or more passes six times. He also topped 100 yards eight times, and in three of the other four games, he had at least 90.

"Everything that he does, we think he does very well," receivers coach Jimmy Robinson said. "He's solid, catches the ball extremely well, very good run after the catch. You see the size of him, he blocks well. To a man, everybody is very high on Jordy."

The Packers took Nelson with the 36th pick after trading their first-round pick at No. 30 overall to the New York Jets. In the trade, Green Bay picked up a fourth-round pick, No. 113.

This marks the first time in 22 years and just the third time in team history the Packers didn't actually select a player in the first round. The previous two times, in 1986 and 1975, the first-round pick was traded away for veteran players Mossy Cade and John Hadl, respectively.

Nelson becomes the fourth receiver GM Ted Thompson has taken on the first day of the draft in the last four years, following second-rounders Terrence Murphy in 2005 and Greg Jennings in 2006 and third-rounder James Jones last year. He also follows all of those players in terms of being a high-character individual with no off-field issues in his past.

The Packers are hoping he'll add to the depth of the receiving corps, which in addition to starter and Pro Bowler Donald Driver also includes Ruvell Martin, Koren Robinson and Shaun Bodiford.

"I think he adds quality to our group, and we like our group," General Manager Ted Thompson said. "I don't think you could ever stop trying to push the envelope and make the group better, and I think he will. He has a chance to."

Thompson added that he had an eye on Nelson for a while and was impressed watching film of his dynamite senior season and seeing his abilities on slants, in traffic, and going up for contested throws.

"The more you watch of him, the more you like him," Thompson said. "I don't know how many drops he had but it couldn't have been more than a handful for the entire year."

Nelson showed plenty of run-after-the-catch ability at Kansas State, making him a good fit with this team, which finished in the top two in the league in yards after the catch each of the last two years.

Lining up mostly in the slot in a spread offense, Nelson used his size (6-2 1/2, 217 pounds) and strength to separate from defenders both before and after the ball arrived.

"That's something I've developed over my years at K-State, being able to make a couple guys miss right off the bat and get vertical," Nelson said. "That's something I focus on a lot.

"I try to get what I can right away, not waste any time, and I think at the next level where the speed is even faster than what it is in college, that's real important not to waste a lot of time dancing around, and just get vertical and get the ball north and south."

With a 40-yard dash time in the 4.5 range, Nelson (who was the third receiver taken early in the second round after none were selected in the first round) was rated lower than a handful of other receivers with faster times.

But the Packers don't see Nelson losing a lot of foot races, and the size and speed combined make for an attractive package. As evidence, he had just five punt returns last season, but he took two of them for touchdowns, from 89 and 92 yards away.

"When you're 6-2, 220 pounds you don't have to run 4.4 or 4.3," McGill said. "The important thing about him is he has functional quickness. Very few receivers run a legitimate 4.3, 4.4 in the NFL. 4.5 is running, and when you're 6-2 and as big as this kid is, I think 4.5 is good enough speed.

"One thing about him is he lined up in the Big 12 Conference against pretty good competition, and week in, week out the kid made plays. Whether his timed speed was 4.5, when he lined up against some of these top corners, he had no problems getting open and beating them, so I think his speed won't be an issue."

One of those top corners was Kansas' Aqib Talib, a first-round draft pick of Tampa Bay (No. 20 overall). Though he wasn't matched up against Talib the entire game, Nelson had 10 catches for 137 yards and a touchdown in that contest. The TD came on a go-route against Talib.

"This is not a slow receiver," Robinson said. "He'll have his share of running by guys, I feel certain of that."

He's gonna be a BEAST!

"JNelson87" wrote:

I wouldn't be so sure he will be replacing Jones.. JJ is going to be a heck of a player himself.. he put up some impressive numbers last season to prove it.

Can you imagine some of the sets that MM is going to deploy with 5 quality receivers at his disposal.. talk about mismatches galore.

"pack93z" wrote: