DJ Nelson moving from quarterback to receiver in senior season
Throwing passes, catching passes, run blocking, making tackles, blocking punts – it doesn’t matter how it takes place.
DJ Nelson just wants to make plays.
He knows the secret to fulfilling that desire lies in taking advantage of opportunities. After all, that’s been the most consistent facet of Nelson’s career on the gridiron.
Seven years ago, he had the opportunity to direct a high-powered and talented high school offense. Nelson took advantage of it – he was named an All-American and won a state championship.
Next came the opportunity to play at Utah State, something that’s been a family tradition of sorts. In fact, the Nelson family’s ties with USU athletics date back to the 1930’s, and they’ll continue into the future; DJ’s younger brother, Chase, is currently a sophomore defensive back. Nelson took advantage of this opportunity, finding a role as a team-leader at the backup quarterback position.
In his junior year, Nelson latched on to the next opportunity to present itself. He came on strong at the end of the season on special teams. Nelson made a total of six tackles, and established himself as a special weapon on the punt return team. The 5-foot 9-inch Nelson blocked a pair of punts in 2017, including one against Colorado State that he scooped up and ran 43-yards for a score. In addition, he also punched in a rushing touchdown against Wyoming.
This year, Nelson has one last chance to make an impact through adaptation. He plans on taking full advantage of this opportunity as well.
The senior will finish his career by undergoing a significant position change – he’s taking his talents and toughness to the inside receiver position in 2018.
It’s a move that makes sense – with Jordan Love firmly entrenched at the quarterback spot, and one more year of eligibility remaining for Nelson, Utah State’s coaching staff plans on getting the most use out of the fiery Cache Valley native. Nelson’s transition has been a work-in-progress dating back to the 2017 season.
“It happened later in the year,” Nelson said when asked about when he was approached with the switch. “Gerold Bright moved into the running back slot due to an injury, and it got taxing just having two slot receivers, especially in practice. Coach Luke (Wells) approached me and said ‘Why don’t you come run?’ I made the move for the rest of the year, and the coaches said that we could reevaluate after the season.”
When the offseason came around, Nelson was deliberate with his decision. USU offensive coordinator David Yost, wide receiver coach Luke Wells, and head coach Matt Wells were all informed and involved in the decision.
“Coach Yost and Coach (Matt) Wells gave me all of the time I needed,” Nelson said. “They said this is your decision, and you do what you want to with your career. I love playing quarterback, and I still think of myself as a quarterback. I ended up talking with my father and older brother. … It took a week or two, but I ended up making the decision to play wide receiver this year.”
“I’m not going to look back. It’s not that I can’t play quarterback, but Jordan (Love) got however many reps he did last year. I’m behind him on that, and whatever I can do to help the team win, I will do.”
With the position change, Nelson will take with him a unique and potentially valuable perspective.
“I learned the game of football as a quarterback,” he said. “That’s how I’ve always seen the game. Even when I’m watching, I’m watching the game from a quarterback’s perspective. That really hasn’t changed with my approach, even as I’m playing wide receiver and special teams. … That hasn’t changed at all. In the wide receiver room, a lot of guys will ask me what the quarterback is thinking in certain situations. I’m able to answer and give them a good idea. Like I said, I still process and think like a quarterback.”
As is to be expected, Nelson has had to put in some extra work to prepare himself for the change.
“The drastic changes that have happened for me have been with my body,” Nelson said. “I’ve changed my body by paying attention to my body fat percentage and changing the way that I eat a little bit in order to get leaner and faster.”
Nelson will be part of a trio of pass-catchers who will see time as slot receivers.
“I like to think of us as a three-headed monster, between myself, Aaron (Vaughns) and Jordan (Nathan). We’re going to compete, and competition will lead to success. We aren’t worried about spots; the best guy will play, and if all three of us are the best, we’re going to find a way for all of us to play.”
In addition to his experience, athleticism and toughness, Nelson also possesses a strong dose of maturity and grit.
“His maturity and his playmaking ability are his strengths,” Yost said. “He’s always maximizing his opportunities. In the spring, we loved to throw the screen pass to him – he wasn’t necessarily going to go for 80 (yards), but if we blocked it well enough to get six yards, he pretty much always can turn it into eight (yards).”
To Nelson, success in both football and in life is tied to making adjustments. The business administration and finance major has a motto that he lives by.
“Coach (Matt) Wells says it a lot, and I think it reflects on my time here at Utah State. It’s from Mike Tyson. He said ‘everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.’ That’s something I’ll take with me. You can have an idea and you can have plans, and that’s great to have goals and plans. Bottom line is, though, that punches will come and it’s about how you react. When someone or something hits you with a right hook across the mouth, you have to respond. You can either run from it, or you can plant your feet in the ground and fire back.”
“That’s how I’ve viewed this last year. Would I have loved to play quarterback the rest of my career? It would’ve been awesome. But everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth. I’ve chosen to stick my feet in the ground and help this team win whichever way that I can. That’s what I hope to do this year.”