Eagles Draft Profile: Oregon State CB Steven Nelson
Sep 28, 2013; Corvallis, OR, USA;Oregon State Beavers cornerback Steven Nelson (2) before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Measurables
Steven Nelson came in at just 5-10, 199 lbs. at the Senior Bowl weigh-ins. But that only tells half the story, just look at players such as Miami Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes or San Diego Chargers cornerback Brandon Flowers. Both are actually smaller than Nelson but are very good cornerbacks in the NFL and have shown that they can hold their own playing against the league’s best receivers on the outside.
Nelson should be no different. Despite his size, he brings a toughness at the position that you just can’t teach. Some criticize him for being “too aggressive” but it’s a lot easier to tell a guy to take it down a notch then it is to try and get him to play harder. Nelson is also a great athlete so even though he’s “undersized”, he has no problem going against bigger receivers and playing the ball at it’s highest point.
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NFL Network’s Charles Davis fell in love with Nelson at the Senior Bowl and was quick to dub him with the same nickname he gave San Diego Chargers cornerback Jason Verrett last year during the draft process. Davis referred to Nelson as “Mighty Mouse” because of his size, toughness and tenacity that he put on display down in Mobile, Alabama. Bleacher Report’s Dan Hope wrote more about Nelson’s nickname and his performance at the Senior Bowl.
"Thanks to NFL Network’s Charles Davis, Oregon State cornerback Steven Nelson has a new nickname. Dubbed by Davis this week as “Mighty Mouse,” in reference to a cartoon character popular from the 1940s through 1960s, Nelson is a small cornerback who displayed big talent this week, especially in Saturday’s game. Nelson, who measured at 5’10” and 199 pounds at Tuesday morning’s Senior Bowl weigh-in, blanketed his opponents in coverage all afternoon. He was officially credited with two pass breakups but was also targeted on multiple other throws that fell incomplete."
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