Career
Saw action in 42 games … Made 12 starts ... Registered 79 total hits (72 solo/7 assists) ... Had at least one tackle in 29 games ... Recorded 23 multi-tackle games ... Also has five interceptions (58 return yards), four PBU, 3.5 TFL (20 yards) and 1.5 sacks (15 yards).
2016 (Senior)
Played in eight of the 13 contests … Made four starts … Missed five (Oct. 6, Oct. 22, Oct. 29, Nov. 5, Nov. 12) contests in a six-game stretch as a result of a leg injury … Totaled 22 tackles (21 solo/1 assist) … Also had two interceptions, one TFL (4 yards) and one PBU … In his eight appearances, posted seven multi-tackle games … Tied a career-high with six total hits (5-1) vs. Western Kentucky in the Boca Raton Bowl … The five solo stops and one assist were season-bests … Tied a career-high with one interception vs. the Hilltoppers in the Boca Raton Bowl … Had four solo hits in the regular-season finale win over No. 18/21 Houston … Posted three solo tackles in road games at Ole Miss and Cincinnati … Tied a career-best with one interception in a home victory over Bowling Green … Recorded his one TFL and one PBU in the season-opening win over Southeast Missouri … His one PBU tied a career-high.
2015 (Junior)
Saw action in all 13 games ... Made eight starts ... Team’s sixth-leading tackler with 47 total stops (42 unassisted/5 assists) ... His 42 solo hits were tied for fifth on the team ... Logged 12 multi-tackle performances ... Had at least one tackle in all 13 games ... Had two interceptions, one PBU, one TFL (12 yards) and one sack (12 yards) ... Earned first collegiate start in the season-opening win over Missouri State ... First multi-tackle game was a four solo-stop effort in a road win at Kansas ... Registered a career-high six total tackles (all solo) in the upset win over Ole Miss ... A second-quarter solo stop on a 3rd-and-30 play forced a Rebels punt ... Memphis scored a TD on the next possession to take a 14-10 lead ... Tied his career high for total tackles with six (5-1) at Tulsa ... Collected his career-high for TFL/sack yardage with a 12-yard sack in the regular-season home finale vs. SMU ... His sack helped set up the Memphis offense with a short field after a Mustangs punt ... Three plays after the SMU punt, Memphis scored a TD for a 42-0 lead ... Tied career-highs for total tackles (6) and solo hits (6) vs. Auburn in the Birmingham Bowl ... Also had an interception vs. Auburn.
2014 (Sophomore)
Played in 12 games ... Member of the Tigers team that won 10 games (10-3 record) and earned a shared of the American Athletic Conference regular-season championship ... Team posted the program’s first 10-win campaign since 1938 and won the first conference championship since 1971 … Squad also won the Miami Beach Bowl, a thrilling 55-48 double-overtime victory over BYU ... Credited with eight total tackles (7 solo/1 assist) ... Also had two PBU, 1.5 TFL (4 yards), 0.5 sacks (3 yards) and one interception (58 yards) … His first tackle of the season came on special teams at UCLA … Dropped the Bruins’ kick returner after a gain of 13 yards to the UCLA 16 … Two plays later, an interception returned for a TD tied the game at 35-all … Posted first collegiate multi-tackle game with two solo stops in a win over Middle Tennessee ... Had first collegiate PBU in a road win at Cincinnati ... Logged a season-high three total tackles (2-1) vs. Tulsa ... In a road win at Tulane, registered first collegiate TFL, sack and interception ... Had 1.5 TFL (4 yards) and 0.5 sacks (3 yards) vs. the Green Wave ... Returned his pick 58 yards for a TD to give Memphis a 24-0 lead late in the third quarter ... His 58-yard interception return was the longest on the team ... Had solo tackles in each of the last two regular-season games vs. USF and UConn … Also had a PBU in the USF contest.
2013 (Freshman)
Played in nine games ... Notched two tackles ... Both tackles were solo stops … Credited with first collegiate tackle, a solo hit, at Houston … Also had an unassisted stop against Temple.
High School
Played at Olive Branch High school for head coach Scott Samsel ... Two-way player for the Conquistadors … As a senior in 2012, registered 103 total tackles (39 solo/64 assists), four interceptions, 15 pass break-ups and one forced fumble … Offensively, caught 12 passes for 352 yards and four TD … On special teams, had four punt returns for 28 yards and four kickoff returns for 106 yards … 2012 honors included:The Clarion LedgerAll-State first team, Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) Class 6A All-Region I Team andTheCommercial Appeal’sBest of the Preps Mississippi/Arkansas Team … Had two, double-digit tackle games, including a 10-stop performance against Madison Central in the season opener … In addition to eight tackles, had his first interception in a 38-14 win over Trezevant … In a 42-19 win over Syrma, had six tackles and returned an interception 14 yards … Registered a season-high three pass break-ups, six tackles and a QB hurry in the Conquistadors’ 43-33 win at Memphis University School … After back-to-back, eight-tackle games against Southaven and South Panola, equaled a season high with 10 tackles and two pass break-ups in a 31-28 win over DeSoto Central … Had a nine-tackle, two-pass break-up game in a 21-0 shutout of Grenada … Opened MHSAA Class 6A state playoffs with eight tackles and one interception — his fourth of the season — against Warren Central … In final game of prep career, had eight tackles against Madison Central ... His 2012 squad advanced to the MHSAA Class 6A state playoffs quarterfinal round ... Member of Olive Branch’s 2011 MHSAA Class 6A state championship team … The Conquistadors went undefeated (15-0) and defeated Petal 35-34 in the state title game … Team also captured the MHSAA 6A Region I crown (7-0 record) … As a junior in 2011, registered 87 total tackles, five interceptions, four pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery ... Began junior year with a six-tackle performance against Madison Central … Closed the season with three-straight, double-figure tackle games in the MHSAA Class 6A state playoffs … Began the postseason with a six-tackle game against Clinton … Also had one interception (27-yard return), one pass break-up and one forced fumble vs. Clinton ... Had 11 tackles and one forced fumble in a 34-3 win over Northwest Rankin in the state playoffs second round … Had a career-high 17 tackles and one fumble recovery in the Conquistadors’ 40-35 state semifinal win over Madison Central … In Olive Branch High School’s 35-34 state title game win over Petal, had 13 tackles, including a season-high four solo stops.
Personal
Son of Brenda Nelson ... Birthday is June 25 ... Has four brothers: Brandon, Thomas, Antonio and Eddrick ... An organizational leadership major.
