Nelson leads solid punt-return unit
Physical player will break tackles says coach Haering
MADISON – As Wisconsin’s coaches prepared to face Hawaii in Week 4 of the 2015 season, they were impressed with a sophomore cornerback returning punts for the Rainbow Warriors. That player was Nick Nelson. “We said: ‘This guy is good,’ ” UW special teams coach Chris Haering said.
Nelson, who transferred to UW after the ’15 season and sat out last season, appears set to handle punt returns for the team in 2017.
“Nick Nelson has done some really good things back there and we are excited about him,” Haering said after practice Saturday.
“He has soft hands and he is very confident back there. And then he has a burst.”
Despite running behind inconsistent blocking at Hawaii, Nelson averaged 7.4 yards on punt returns. His long return was 37 yards.
In addition to possessing sure hands, quick feet and excellent vision, Nelson carries 208 pounds on his 5-foot-11 frame. He is more physical than many return men.
“What you see with Nick is that he is not frail,” Haering said. “He is a thick kid. He has great strength and he will break tackles.”
Defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard averaged 12.8 yards on punt returns at UW, the No. 2 mark in program history.
He has been impressed by Nelson’s work in camp.
“Very natural catching the ball,” he noted. “That is always the first thing, obviously. And I think he could be special with the ball in his hands. He has a lot of skill.
“He’s got a lot of comfort being back there catching it. I don’t think he is going to panic when guys get close to him. I’m excited to see what he can this season.”
Meanwhile, tailback Chris James and wide receiver A.J. Taylor have been getting a significant amount of work on kickoff returns.
Natrell Jamerson, set to start at safety this season, was the primary kickoff-return man in 2015 but has yet work on the unit in camp.
“There are going to be times he might do it,” Haering said. We haven’t done much with him this camp. We know what he can do. We’ll dust him off in the next five or six days.
“We’re excited about our return game.”
From the infirmary: Tight end Zander Neuville and inside linebacker Ryan Connelly, two of 13 players held out of practice because of injuries, are close to returning to practice.
Both players have been out because of leg injuries.
Connelly tested the leg Saturday and told teammates it felt better than he anticipated.
Redshirt sophomore Jon Dietzen, who underwent off-season surgery on his right ankle, was limited again Saturday. Dietzen appears to be favoring his left ankle.
The right-shoulder injury suffered Thursday by reserve guard Jason Erdmann was not serious.
Erdmann’s right arm was in a sling on Friday, but the redshirt sophomore was out of the sling on Saturday and participated in individual drills.
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Kendric Pryor is sidelined because he suffered minor injuries in a moped accident earlier this week.
Deal out indefinitely: Reserve tailback Taiwan Deal, who had offseason surgery on his right ankle, is battling an injury to that ankle.
Deal is out of his protective boot but on Saturday was wearing a brace on the ankle.
With Deal out, freshman Jonathan Taylor has been getting extra work. If Deal is out for an extended period of time, the staff could decide to play Taylor this season.
The 5-11, 214-pound Taylor is strong, quick and fast. He also is bright and according to running backs coach John Settle has grasped the offense quickly.