Steven Nelson: JC DB picks UGA over Houston and Middle Tennessee State
New UGA DB commit Steven Nelson played at Northside-Warner Robins High School last year (Special)
Steven Nelson, a junior college DB from Warner Robins, committed to UGA on Thursday.
The 6-foot, 185-pound speedster picked the Bulldogs over offers from Houston and Middle Tennessee State. He also had interest from Utah, Colorado and Cal.
“First of all, I’ve been a UGA fan since I was a young’un,” Nelson told the AJC. “A couple of Georgia coaches used to come watch my football games in high school but I didn’t have the grades. So I had to come to junior college first. Now I have the grades and I got an offer from Georgia today, so I committed. I think it’s going to be great.”
Nelson graduated from Northside-Warner Robins High School last year and signed to play at California’s College of the Sequoias this past fall.
Nelson is expected to enroll at Georgia in January 2013. He is UGA’s sixth commitment for its 2013 recruiting class — and second at DB (Sandy Creek’s Shaq Wiggins).
It was a quick courtship with UGA, which projects Nelson to play cornerback and return punts. Nelson said he was recently clocked at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
“I spoke with [UGA assistant Scott Lakatos]; he called me today and we talked for a good hour,” Nelson said. “I told him I wanted to play at UGA, and he said he wanted a guy like to me to come and compete. He offered me, and we finished talking. Then I called my coach out here and asked him what I should do. My coach told me to go ahead and commit, so I followed his advice.”
Nelson started all 10 games this year as a freshman at cornerback, registering 42 solo tackles, 13 pass breakups and 4 interceptions.
“[Lakatos] loves Steven; they think he’s a guy who came come in and contribute immediately,” said Fred Zepeda, DB coach at the College of the Sequoias. ”They like how he has really good feet and vision of the field. And they love how he’s so big and physical with that type of speed. The guy runs around 10.9 or 10.7 in the 100 meters at that size. Basically, he’s a hell of an athlete.”
“Georgia loves that he’s a 3-2 player, and will be graduating in December, with three years to play two there. He’s a real smart kid with a 3.3 GPA. He’s getting it done in the classroom like he’s supposed to be doing, and he’s a very good character guy.”
UGA commits for 2013
- RB Derrick Henry, 6-3, 241, Yulee, Fla.
- QB Brice Ramsey, 6-3, 190, Camden County HS
- S Tray Matthews, 6-2, 205, Newnan HS
- DB Shaq Wiggins, 5-10, 160, Sandy Creek HS
- DB Steven Nelson, 6-0, 185, College of Sequoias JC (Northside-WR HS)
- DT Chris Mayes, 6-4, 295, Mississippi Gulf Coast JC (Spalding HS)
RELATED: Derek Dooley defended his decision to sign Deion Bonner, who was one of the Southeast’s most highly-recruited cornerbacks before being arrested as part of UGA lockerroom theft of iPods and iPhones. Before last April’s incident at UGA, the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder from Carver-Columbus High School had more than 30 early scholarship offers, including one from UGA. (Click here to read more)
WHAT A WEEK IN RECRUITING …
- Derek Dooley defends decision to sign ex-UGA target Deion Bonner
- JC DB commits to UGA over Houston and Middle Tennessee State
- Mega-prospect Reuben Foster will TRANSFER after coach’s firing … the Alabama LB commit will visit UGA this weekend
- After trying to commit to UGA, RB Keyante Greene pledges to UCLA
- Georgia’s No. 1 RB commits to Alabama over UGA and Clemson
- Georgia football star commits to Auburn
- Lane Kiffin gets a good laugh about Tennessee’s blame game
- Mark Richt vs. Paul Johnson on controversial “commitment” issue
- Avery Young’s coach: NOT part of “package deal” with 5-star OL
- Nick Saban mails 105 letters in ONE DAY to Atlanta RB
- It’s shaping up as UGA vs. Florida Gators for OL transfer
INSTANT AJC RECRUITING CLASSICS
- “The story that won’t go away” … Alabama’s grayshirt scandal
- Derek Dooley rips anything & everything to do with SEC’s new over-signing rules
- UCLA’s Jim Mora: Recruits remember I was coach when Atlanta Falcons last won a playoff game
- Robert Nkemdiche: UGA may be close to cracking Top 5 for nation’s No. 1 overall prospect
- CONTROVERSY: Vanderbilt coach on “Men of Honor” comment with UGA recruit
- Justin Taylor and his coach blast Alabama
- Mark Richt goes to jail for recruiting
- Nick Saban to Atlanta RB: Sorry but you can’t sign with Alabama until 2013
- Meet the Bulldogs (UGA’s 2012 class)
- Meet the Yellow Jackets (Georgia Tech’s 2012 class)
– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog
Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com
- So much is happening so fast. Have you missed anything over the last few days? Catch up with our feed by CLICKING HERE
- BOOKMARK the NEW AJC Recruiting homepage here
- Want to see a list of the top 125 prospects state of Georgia who signed with D1 schools? It’s looong. Go here.
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204 comments Add your comment
James
February 23rd, 2012
8:48 pm
1st! Great to have you as a Dawg, Steven.
Go Dawgs!
IT IS WHAT IT IS
February 23rd, 2012
8:49 pm
who????????????????????
SouthGaBrave
February 23rd, 2012
8:50 pm
Congrats to Steven. Was a great player down here at Northside.
M.C., Nelson is the 6th commit. Henry, Ramsey, Matthews, Wiggins, Nelson, and Chris Mayes.
Dawg Haus
February 23rd, 2012
8:50 pm
Congrats on your offer, Steven! Welcome to the Bulldog Nation!
Big Dawg
February 23rd, 2012
8:50 pm
I hope we have a great recruiting class
Crimson OP
February 23rd, 2012
8:51 pm
Alabama is whipping Richt so badly in the state that the Dawgs are falling back on MTSU targets.
Dawg Haus
February 23rd, 2012
8:54 pm
Michael, any word on Mario Alford?
Tech '74
February 23rd, 2012
8:55 pm
I can’t believe UGA offered him before South Alabama, Wofford, Elon and Samford did. LOLOLOL
Frank Lane
February 23rd, 2012
8:55 pm
Good news.
MacNamara
February 23rd, 2012
8:57 pm
Hope this is only a start…rather win ‘em from Bama and Florida and not MTSU and Houston….
SouthGaBrave
February 23rd, 2012
8:57 pm
Dawg Haus,
Mario and his family are visiting Athens this weekend. He hopes to get an offer then. If not, UGA coaches will evaluate him during GMC’s spring practice. If offered, he’ll commit on the spot.
Dap01
February 23rd, 2012
9:00 pm
Congrats Mr. Nelson. You’re going to be a DGD.
Dawg Haus
February 23rd, 2012
9:01 pm
Thanks, SouthGaBrave! I thought his visit was this weekend. I hope things go well. He sure sounds like he really wants to be a Dawg.
DownInAlbany
February 23rd, 2012
9:07 pm
Any word on an offer to Trent Brown? (Westover, Albany and GMC) The local rag is reporting that UGA has offered.
The Bear
February 23rd, 2012
9:09 pm
Good job UGA! He came from a great football program at Northside WR
CC
February 23rd, 2012
9:10 pm
Welcome! GO DAWGS!!
SouthGaBrave
February 23rd, 2012
9:12 pm
DownInAlbany,
Georgia has offered. Brown is saying his top 5 is Georgia, Texas, LSU, Alabama, and FSU (if I remember correctly). Not all have offered yet, so it was good that UGA got in early on him. He probably won’t be making a decision any time soon.
GulfwavesGary
February 23rd, 2012
9:19 pm
Big Bulldog fan. I have gotten to the point that when I see all these 4 and 5 Star recruits and great JC transfer and they play down to CMR’s level which is below from where they came from as Stars in High School to a confused football program. I wish all these new Bulldigs all the best. I want to see the Bulldogs in the top 10 all the time. At least I can dream.
bitter DAWGS FAN
February 23rd, 2012
9:32 pm
Congrats to —STEVEN NELSON—Both on the field and in the class room, the coach’s see
a tall corner and a speed freak———have all you trolls learned that coach grantham
can “COACH PLAY’S UP”—–I love to here kids recruit like nelson and josh harvey clemons
they both only wanted to be a dawg!!!!!——-home grown champion’s
———-we are closer to a SEC Championship because of Steven Nelson—–welcome—–dogg
dawgfan
February 23rd, 2012
9:32 pm
@GulfwavesGary
No you’re not. You’re a tech fan. Now, work on your sentence structure and get off our blog.
bitter DAWGS FAN
February 23rd, 2012
9:41 pm
@cra—vellll—-I do like your tweets————hahahahahahahah
The Bear
February 23rd, 2012
9:48 pm
Should have got this kid out of High School
OkieDawg
February 23rd, 2012
9:58 pm
He sounds good to me…Go Dawgs and THWGT!
FSUFalcon
February 23rd, 2012
10:00 pm
Just wanted to say congrats to Steven Nelson. I am not a UGA fan but like to see guys from Northside go onto bigger and better things. Good luck! I hope he continues to do Northside and the city of Warner Robins proud.
Vampire Bill
February 23rd, 2012
10:01 pm
GREAT pick up
Dawg man
February 23rd, 2012
10:11 pm
Everyone wants to play for our National Champs!!!! next 6 years–all dawgs. Anybody know of anyone going to forfeit than be run off the field by the dawgs?
bitter DAWGS FAN
February 23rd, 2012
10:19 pm
Looking for a few good —-DAWGS——-GENERAL GRANTHAM———–, sign with me
———————-and you can take the next big step—————NFL
Really??????
February 23rd, 2012
10:20 pm
We are taking a JUCO in Feb that only has offers from Houston and MTSU. WOW! I know we need DB’s but not this bad.
bitter DAWGS FAN
February 23rd, 2012
10:23 pm
A QUICK way to run off bammer trolls????—sound the tornado horn——-hahahahahahah
run like cock-roach’s bammer turds, trailers are not safe——hahahahahahah
bitter DAWGS FAN
February 23rd, 2012
10:26 pm
@really????—-cravell failed to deliver info early in the recruitment of this kid—my sources
tell me gratham has had his eye on this kid from day one——great pick up
buzzq
February 23rd, 2012
10:26 pm
he picks ga over middle tennessee state and houston??? WOW!!! That’s a real pickup for the dogs!!! YES!!!! With that superstar on team, start getting ready for BCS titles–crystal trophies and confetti falling from the skies!!!! YES!!!!
o-me
February 23rd, 2012
10:31 pm
lol
dawster
February 23rd, 2012
10:31 pm
@ really…if you did your homework as did the dawgs coaching you will find that the young man can okay..extremely fast and had good bask skills…there was a lot of interest with thid young man coming out of high high school, but grades at the time caused most to back off..don’t get caught up in with the concept that everyone had to be rated by the so called experts ad a 5*..y.this is a quality player and addst depth to a position of need…go dawgs
Grey Shirt!!!!!
February 23rd, 2012
10:32 pm
January 2013? Smells like a UGA GREY SHIRT!!!!!!!!
Concrete Pete
February 23rd, 2012
10:32 pm
I leave the evaluations and decisions on who to offer up to the coaches that get paid a lot of money to do such things. You idiots have to remember that scouting and recruiting services are FOR PROFIT businesses. They which fan base pays, so they be sure to rate those teams kids highly. If we only recruited based of what ESPN or Rivals said, we never would have had Ben Jones, Davey Pollack, Thomas Davis or anyone remember the best defensive player ever? Terry Hoage?
Triple Lindy
February 23rd, 2012
10:33 pm
DB? Too bad he can’t enroll like, right now. We need him in 2012.
Concrete Pete
February 23rd, 2012
10:33 pm
*know which fan base pays
FL Jacket
February 23rd, 2012
10:35 pm
He picked UGA over Houston and MTSU? Is that a typo?
SouthGaBrave
February 23rd, 2012
10:36 pm
Really??????,
Means nothing. Except that we beat other big schools to the kid. People complain when we miss a kid because we offer 2 weeks later than other major programs. You can’t have it both ways. Lakatos, Gratham, and company evaluated and offered the kid, and he accepted on the spot. That’s all you really need to worry about.
FL Jacket
February 23rd, 2012
10:38 pm
” He’s a real smart kid with a 3.3 GPA. He’s getting it done in the classroom like he’s supposed to be doing, and he’s a very good character guy.”
Uhhh…so how’d he end up in JC?
SouthGaBrave
February 23rd, 2012
10:39 pm
Grey Shirt!!!!!,
It’s actually called an early enrollee. The kid will be entering after 1.5 years at his JUCO, instead of coming in the summer of 2013 after 2 full years there. Not that we’d expect you to know anything. Just another troll, so move along.
KJ
February 23rd, 2012
10:39 pm
Gnat Trolls –
UGA could recruit from the blind academy, and still beat your pathetic team every year. Go back to your Dr. Who marathon.
FL Jacket
February 23rd, 2012
10:41 pm
Wow, dwags are so sensitive when you reciprocate the same joke back to them.
Mountain Dawg
February 23rd, 2012
10:42 pm
Glad we are getting taller DB’s instead of Munchkins!
FL Jacket
February 23rd, 2012
10:43 pm
Also, looking at his picture, I’m reminded of Coach Dave Bennett at Coastal Carolina. With all the bands and tape he’s looking too much like kitty cat…
bitter DAWGS FAN
February 23rd, 2012
10:55 pm
going to get my fly-swatter for dim yeller jacket trolls, yaaw need to learn about the forward pass.
not trying to build, steel buildings that crumble . —AKA—I think yaaw failed both times—just saying
Bravos0516
February 23rd, 2012
11:00 pm
The kids video is impressive. Fast and physical DB.
rammabama
February 23rd, 2012
11:03 pm
another top pickup for richt! the kid turned down middle tennessee state to play for the mighty dogs! congrats
thwga
February 23rd, 2012
11:22 pm
Dream team baby. This will teach Elon, wofford and agnes scott to not recruit against the dawgs! I heard sabin and Johnson were really upset they missed out on this one. Bama and the others are Cherry picking the state and uga is getting the dregs.
Mike Dubose
February 23rd, 2012
11:27 pm
How much did they offer him? He’s not worth what I paid for Albert Means.