Quarterback Philip Nelson has found a new home at East Carolina.
The school announced Nelson, who had stints at Minnesota and Rutgers, has been added to the roster as a walk-on.
Nelson transferred from Minnesota to Rutgers in January 2014 in search of a more pro-style offense. However, his time with the Scarlet Knights lasted just a few months after he was arrested on felony assault charges in May stemming from a fight that left another football player with brain damage.
Nelson eventually pleaded guilty for fifth-degree assault and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.
Since then, it’s been a struggle for Nelson, who made 16 starts for Gophers during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, to find a new home. He was linked with South Alabama in May, but the school decided to pass. East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill decided Nelson deserved another chance.
“I think it’s human nature and fair to question decisions such as these, but there was a lot of forethought and deliberation about our willingness to allow Phil to join our program as a walk-on,” McNeill said according to the Wilmington Star-News. “He did not make a good decision, but has taken responsibility and performed community service, which included cautioning kids about avoiding bad situations.
“It is my belief the support and leadership core of our football program can help enable him to become the man we know he can be.”
Nelson, who has two years of eligibility remaining, was on the field for the Pirates’ first practice Thursday. While quarterbacking Minnesota, he threw for 2,179 yards and 17 touchdowns and rushed for 548 yards and another six scores.
If Nelson was looking to play in a more pass-happy offense, East Carolina is certainly a great fit. The Pirates ranked third nationally in passing offense last season with 371.9 yards per game.
Quarterback Shane Carden left for the NFL, leaving Kurt Benkert and Blake Kemp as the top competitors to start this year. Nelson, who has been admitted to ECU, has not yet been declared eligible. It is unclear when that will happen, but there’s little doubt he will challenge for that starting quarterback spot.
For more East Carolina news, visit PirateIllustrated.com.
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