Tuesday was a good day for JR Nelson.
It may not have been his first day back on the field with his teammates — Nelson has already spent a good amount of time on the practice field this fall. But Tuesday marked the day Montana’s senior cornerback could practice knowing the reps he was taking would be put to use on a Saturday for the first time.
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“Obviously there is a lot of emotions being back with my brothers and being back able to do the one thing I love,” said Nelson, who was a frequent target for interview requests before Tuesday’s practice in Missoula.
Nelson is returning to the lineup Saturday for the first time since Montana’s 2015 season ended last December in the second round of the FCS Playoffs at North Dakota State. Nelson was suspended by the NCAA during the offseason for failing a drug test. Despite a number of appeals filed on his behalf, the governing body cut Nelson’s senior season in half.
Because of the way the NCAA interprets suspensions for rules violations and failed drug tests, Nelson’s 5.5 game suspension was rounded up to six. When Montana released its depth chart for Saturday’s game at Northern Arizona, Nelson’s name sat on top opposite sophomore cornerback Markell Sanders.
“I’m excited for him to get back,” said senior defensive end Caleb Kidder. “It’s going to add the dynamics of our defense. It’s going to make our secondary great.”
Even in Nelson’s absence, the secondary has been one of the best in the country. As Montana has unleashed a hell-fire pass rush, the back end of the defense has held up its part despite the pressure placed upon it. Relying mostly on man concepts, the Griz are allowing quarterbacks to complete just 42 percent of their passes with a pass efficiency of 103.21, which ranks 10th in the FCS.
Though Nelson wasn’t on the field to help those numbers, it’s not like he wasn’t around. He was in meeting rooms and practices. And he was on the sidelines during games, helping cornerbacks coach JB Hall mentor a position that came into the season short on experience.
“He’s been awesome. He’s been awesome for our young guys – our freshmen,” said Hall, now in his second year coaching at Montana. “Our guys that got the opportunity to start just because he wasn’t there.
“I asked him to be the coach on the field. He needed to do that. Obviously to stay in the game mentally and obviously to have the trust of his teammates when he got back.
Nelson’s return to the field coincides with a two-game stretch that pits Montana against two of the nation’s most dynamic passing offenses. First up is NAU, which torched Idaho State’s struggling defense on Saturday. A week later, the Griz travel west to face the FCS’ most successful aerial attack in Eastern Washington.
One of the nation’s best passing defenses against two top-10 passing offenses; something has to give. Nelson’s return — and the depth that developed during the suspension — have Montana’s coaches confident in their chances.
“The thing that kind of makes JR special – why the pro scouts really like him – is his body control,” UM defensive coordinator Jason Semore said. “He really controls his body well for as much length and speed as he has, which kind of makes him unique.”
Nelson earned honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference honors as a junior in 2015 with 49 tackles, including 35 solo stops. He broke up 10 passes and intercepted two more, returning one pick 20 yards for a touchdown against Idaho State and another 36 yards for six against Eastern Washington.
While relishing the opportunity to face receivers like Northern Arizona’s Emmanuel Butler and Eastern Washington’s Cooper Kupp, Nelson said his focus this week is on preparation. He’ll concentrate on fine-tuning the techniques he has practiced throughout the season instead of getting lost in the emotion of the moment.
Then, Hall said, Nelson can go do what made him a standout cornerback in his only season as a full-time starter.
“He’s gone about controlling his emotions and keeping himself bottled up,” Hall said. “Now he gets to play: let it loose, man, let it loose. We’ve talked about it enough, let it loose. Go have fun, 18.”
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Another high-profile return to the starting line-up was put on hold Monday — or was it?
At Montana’s weekly press conference, head coach Bob Stitt said freshman receiver Jerry Louie-McGee is “day-to-day” as he recovers from minor meniscus surgery that has kept him on the sidelines the past two weeks.
Louie-McGee injured his knee in a 21-catch, school-record performance in a 42-41loss to Cal Poly on September 24. He did return to practice, but was not listed on Montana’s depth chart when it was released Tuesday.
“I hope that he is playing this week, I really do,” Stitt said. “We’re not going to rush him. He worked out today with the trainers and I think he is feeling pretty good. We’re going to take him along and hopefully he is on the field Saturday.”
Given a chance to slide inside to the ‘Z’ with Louie-McGee on the sidelines, junior James Homan has caught 11 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown.
[/restrict]Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved.
