Philip Nelson

Height:
6-1
Weight:
216
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
DeForest, Wis.
High School:
Mankato (Minn.) West
Prev School:
Rutgers
Major:
Communications

Joined East Carolina program as a transfer walk-on in August, 2015 … Originally signed with Big Ten Conference member Minnesota (2012) before transferring to Rutgers after sophomore season (January, 2014) … Was recognized for play with Pirates’ scout team while redshirting during first semester at ECU … Expected to open 2016 season as program’s projected starting quarterback after competitive spring battle with Kurt Benkert under watchful eyes of first-year head coach Scottie Montgomery and offensive coordinator Tony Petersen … Was five-of-14 for 26 yards and a touchdown (three-yarder to Anthony Scott) during team’s first spring scrimmage, an abbreviated contest played April 9 … Passed for a team-high 231 yards, completing 13-of-24 tosses, during the Purple-Gold Game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on April 16 … Also engineered three scoring drives and picked up 14 first downs during contest to cap spring workouts … Was offensive unit’s "Respect The Ball Award" winner the conclusion of spring workouts … Earned “Elite Pirate” status during strength and conditioning testing phase, ranking among unit’s top performers in the 40-yard dash (4.58), three-cone drill (6.78) and flex rating (17) … Additionally, turned in a bench press of 320 pounds, a back squat of 490, a power clean of 308, a 33” vertical jump and a 4.23 pro shuttle time to earn inclusion on strength coach Jeff Connors’ “freak” list. 2015: Officially added to ECU’s 105-man preseason camp roster on Aug. 6 (and participated in team’s first practice) … Selected as the offensive recipient of the Rick Bankston Memorial Award, which recognizes the program’s most outstanding scout team performer … Did not experience any game action as a full-time member of the scout squad, but did prepare Pirates’ defensive unit on a daily basis during entire duration of first campaign at East Carolina.

2014 (Rutgers): Formally announced decision to transfer from Minnesota to Rutgers on Jan. 16 and participated in spring drills for the Scarlet Knights … Was dismissed from Rutgers program by then-head coach Kyle Flood on May 13 … Did not play collegiate football during the fall semester.

2013 (Minnesota): Played in 12 games and started nine to help lead Gophers to an 8-5 overall record and Big Ten mark of 4-4 (fourth-place finish in Legends Division) … Was 94-of-186 for 1,306 yards and nine touchdowns ... Stood third on the team in rushing attempts (93) and yards (364) ... Led squad in total offense with 1,670 yards (1,306 pass/364 rush) ... Was fourth on unit in scoring with six rushing TDs ... Ran 12 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns, which included a 48-yard score, in a win against UNLV (Aug. 29) ... Also was 10-of-22 for 99 yards and an aerial TD vs. Rebels ... Rushed 15 times for a career-high 122 yards and a touchdown, while completing eight passes for 127 yards at New Mexico State (Sept. 7) ... Had six carries for 16 yards and was three-of-four passing against FCS opponent Western Illinois before leaving game with an injury ... After missing contest (injury), returned to starting lineup against Iowa (Sept. 28) and passed for 135 yards and one TD ... Experienced action in a reserve role at Northwestern (Oct. 19) and led Minnesota to a victory after rushing for 26 yards and passing for another 112 (one TD) ... Rushed eight times for 55 yards and two scores against Nebraska (Oct. 26) and was also seven-of-15 passing for 152 yards and one touchdown ... Completed 16-of-23 passes for career highs in completions, yards (298) and touchdowns (four) against Indiana on Nov. 2 ... Ran 12 times for 40 yards and one TD against Penn State (Nov. 9), while also connecting on 15-of-24 throws for 186 yards and one TD ... Also opened contests against Wisconsin (Nov. 23) and at Michigan State (Nov. 30) ... Started against Syracuse in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 27 and was two-of-seven passing for 18 yards and rushed twice for 14 yards during UM’s 21-17 setback … An Academic All-Big Ten performer in the classroom.

2012 (Minnesota): Started the final seven games of the season at quarterback as a true freshman ... Passed for 873 yards and eight touchdowns, which ranked as the third-highest total ever for a Gopher rookie quarterback, to help Minnesota to a 6-7 overall mark (2-6 Big Ten, fifth-place finish in the Legends Division) … Rushed 69 times for 184 yards ... Topped unit with 1,057 yards of total offense ... Named Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week for his performance against Purdue (Oct. 27), becoming the first Gopher to ever earn that honor ... Shared Outstanding Offensive Freshman-of-the-Year honors with running back Rodrick Williams ... Made UM and collegiate debut at Wisconsin on Oct. 20 ... Completed 13-of-24 passes for 149 yards and two TDs, while rushing 16 times for 67 yards against Badgers ... Enjoyed home debut against Boilermakers and led Gophers to a 44-28 win ... Completed 15-of-22 passes for 246 yards and three scores in the victory over Purdue ... Ran for 37 yards and connected on 13 passes, including a touchdown strike, against Michigan (Nov. 3) ... Caught his first career pass (a five-yarder from holder Peter Mortell) on a fake field goal attempt vs. Wolverines ... Was nine-of-15 for 78 yards through the air during a 17-3 win at Illinois (Nov. 10), which secured a bowl bid for the Gophers ... Also played against Nebraska (Nov. 17) and vs. Michigan State (Nov. 24) ... Picked up 26 ground yards and completed seven-of-16 passes for 138 yards and two TDs during a 34-31 loss to Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 28.

High School: Led Mankato (Minn.) West High School to an 11-1 record, conference and section championships and berth in state semifinals ... Recipient of Minnesota’s Mr. Football award following senior season ... Also named ESPN Gatorade Minnesota Player-of-the-Year and Associated Press Minnesota Player-of-the-Year in 2011 ... Selected to all-state squads by the Minnesota Vikings and AP ... Earned All-America recognition by the Semper Fidelis All-Star Game ... Chosen Big Nine Conference Player-of-the-Year and was a two-time Big Nine Offensive Player-of-the-Year selection ... Rated as the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the nation, the No. 40 overall player in the country and National Sleeper-of-the-Year by MaxPreps' Tom Lemming... A three-time all-conference honoree ... Established state records for single-season total touchdowns (55) and career TDs (135) ... Finished prep career standing second on state charts for attempts (801), completions (490), passing yards (7,561) and touchdown passes (94) ... Passed for 2,784 yards and 35 scores, while rushing for 1,243 yards and 20 TDs as a senior for coach Mark Esch.

Personal: Full name is Philip Robert Nelson … Born September 11, 1993 … Son of Pat and Norma Nelson … Major is communications.