Eagles Draft Profile: Oregon State CB Steven Nelson

Sep 14, 2013; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Oregon State Beavers cornerback Steven Nelson (2) warms up prior to a game against the Utah Utes at

-Eccles Stadium. Oregon State won 51-48 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports

Interview

Oregon State cornerback Steven Nelson was nice enough to take some time out of his busy schedule while training for the 2015 NFL Draft and answer some questions for me here at Inside the Iggles. Nelson talks about his journey through college, preparing for the next level, his thoughts on the “Mighty Mouse” nickname as well as his potential fit with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Q: You have had an interesting journey to this point in your career since you started off at the College of the Sequoias and then you transferred to Oregon State. Describe how that path has helped you get ready for to the next level.

A: That process going through junior college has pretty much made me hungrier. A lot of those kids that go to big, division 1 schools are pretty much given everything and some just don’t have to work as hard. Coming from that, it just made me work a lot harder.

Q: While watching tape of you, nothing stood out more than your game against Arizona State and their top wide receiver Jaelen Strong, where you snapped his streak of five consecutive games with a receiving touchdown. How did going against such a high profile player help your confidence moving forward?

A: I think it’s going to help me keep improving. The type of player I am and the kind of person I am, no matter what round or who they say is the best guy, I always feel like I’m the best guy. I’ve always felt underrated. Moving forward, whether it’s Dez Bryant or Julio Jones, I’ll be up for the challenge. To play cornerback, you have to have confidence or you won’t last.

Q: How was your experience in Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl? Did you take in or learn anything specific from the coaches or other players there?

I was just happy to get the experience from an NFL coaching staff, working with those guys. I came from Oregon State where I was coached by coach Rod Perry, who was actually an NFL coach and he pretty much taught me everything those guys were telling me. But it was a great experience.

Q: During the broadcast of the Senior Bowl, NFL Network’s Charles Davis gave you the nickname “Mighty Mouse” because of your size and toughness. How do you feel about that nickname?

A: *laughs* I think it’s a funny nickname and everybody else laughs about it too. But hey, if that’s my name, I’ll roll with it, I don’t have a problem with it.

Q: Moving forward, what would you say are your strengths and weaknesses? How will you improve your game leading up to the draft?

A: My strengths are my instincts, speed, ability to diagnose plays and tackle. Just my overall ability to understand the game and I think that separates me from a lot of people. Me being able to play all different types of coverages, both on and off, is one of my biggest strengths. I think I’m just an all-around corner.

The only thing I do need to work on is what people might say is I’m a little too over aggressive. You know, it’s football, what do you mean over aggressive? I guess that’s not hard to correct. I can work on that, that’s not a tough thing to address.

Q: It seems like many people view you primarily as a slot cornerback in the NFL because of your size. Do you prefer playing outside or in the slot and why?

A: I’ll play anything that will allow me to get on the field, that will allow me to help the team. I think it’s silly that they would try to categorize me as that. Given that I’ve proven my ability to break up passes and make plays on the outside at the Senior Bowl. I think people that do that are just trying to categorize me as that. But it really doesn’t matter, that’s what makes me me, I can play anywhere on the field.

Q: The Eagles certainly need help at cornerback but they like to leave their corners on the outside with little to no help from the safeties. Do you think you could step in immediately at the next level and succeed if you’re put in that position?

A: Definitely. I love challenges like that, big challenges. Coming from Oregon State, that was our defense and many people don’t know that. It was pretty much man coverage

Q: For Eagles’ fans that may not know much about you, please describe the type of player and person you are, what would you bring to the team if they drafted you?

A: I’m a genuine person, love giving back to the community. I’m a family man, that’s always doing the right thing, no character issues or anything like that. I’d be a major plus to the community and the organization.

Next: Conclusion