2016 Football Roster
JR Nelson
- Class:
- Redshirt Senior
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 171
- Position:
- CB
- Hometown:
- Hacienda Heights, Calif.
- High School:
- Glen Wilson HS
2016: Nelson is the Grizzlies’ third leading returning tackler … Expected to start once again at cornerback.
2015: Given an All-Big Sky Honorable Mention... Started in all 13 games at cornerback as a redshirt junior … Was the team’s 10th leading tackler with 49 takedowns … Had the third-most solo tackles with 35 … Had the second-most pass breakups on the team with 10 … Returned two interceptions for touchdowns, one at Idaho State on Nov. 7 for 20 yards, the other against Eastern Washington on Nov. 14 for 36 yards … Picked up a bad snap fumble against Idaho State leading to the game-winning touchdown … Named ROOT Sports Big Sky defensive Player of the Week following the Idaho State game
2014: Nelson played in all 14 games and started against Central Washington. He had 17 total tackles with 11 unassisted.
2013: He played in 11 games and had seven tackles.
2012: He was a Griz redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL: He was a four-year letterman and three-time all-league pick in football at Glen A. Wilson High School, playing running back and cornerback. His senior season he rushed for 1,704 yards and 13 touchdowns, and 62 tackles in only eight games. He was an All-C.I.F. pick his senior year. His senior season he rushed for 401 yards and five TDs in one game. He lettered twice in basketball and was all-league in hoops his senior season. He was the conference champion in the 300-meter hurdles as a junior and senior, and C.I.F. finalist in that event his senior year. His prep football coach was Bob Burt. He was the only California prep athlete to earn five letters: football, basketball, track, drama, and choir.
PERSONAL: He is a communications studies major. Birth date: Nov. 30, 1993. His parents are Richard Nelson and Michelle Layne of Hacienda Heights. He was born in Queens, New York.
| Year | G/S | UT | AT | TT | TL | Sack | INT |
| 2013 | 11/0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 14/1 | 11 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 13/13 | 35 | 14 | 49 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Total | 38/14 | 49 | 25 | 73 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
WATCH: #BIGSkyFB defensive Player of the Week JR Nelson with a pick 6 vs ISU! #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/ZeMUt9AqPL
— UM Griz Football (@UMGRIZZLIES_FB) November 10, 2015
