Former Raven Reggie Nelson Visits Coffeyville

February 20, 2012

Reggie Nelson met with members of the current Red Raven team on Monday at the Dick Foster Athletic Complex. Nelson was in town to visit with former coaches Dickie Rolls and Jeff Leiker.

Former Coffeyville Red Raven Reggie Nelson visited Coffeyville on Feb. 20 and met with current members of the Red Raven team at the Dick Foster Athletic Complex. After red-shirting in 2003, Nelson played for Coffeyville in 2004 and was tied for the team lead with 85 tackles. Nelson, who ranks fifth on Coffeyville's season interception list, picked off six passes for 175 return yards. Nelson also blocked five kicks, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles to lead the Ravens to a 10-2 record including a win over Scottsdale, Arizona in the Valley of the Sun Bowl. Nelson was a first team NJCAA All-American and first team All-Jayhawk Conference strong safety.

After graduating from Coffeyville, Nelson, a Florida native, played two seasons for the University of Florida. Nelson was an immediate sophomore starter for the Gators at free safety in 2005. Nelson registered forty-six tackles, four sacks, and forced a fumble.

In his junior year, the Gators ended up going to the BCS National Championship Game and they defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes. For the season, Nelson recorded 51 tackles, five pass break-ups and six interceptions. Two of his interceptions were against the Tennessee Volunteers, and he returned another for a seventy-yard touchdown against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Nelson was a first-team All-SEC selection and a consensus first-team All-American, and he was chosen by his Gators teammates as the team's most valuable player.

Nelson was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round (twenty-first pick overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. Nelson led the Jaguars with seven tackles in their season opener against the Tennessee Titans in his first NFL game. He also sacked Tennessee quarterback Vince Young, causing a forced fumble. He ended the year with sixty-three tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and five interceptions. On September 4, 2010 he was traded to the Cincinnati Bengals. Last season for the Bengals, Nelson had a combined 85 tackles and picked off four passes including one for a 75-yard touchdown return.