Topic: Jordy Nelson

Jordy Ray Nelson (born May 31, 1985) is an American football wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Packers in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kansas State.

Nelson was born in Manhattan, Kansas, and played high school football at Riley County High School, in Riley, Kansas. During his senior year, he connected on 62 percent of his passes for 1,029 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,572 yards, averaging 9.8 yards per carry with 25 touchdowns. He was named Flint Hills Player of the Year by the Manhattan Mercury and was a two-time first-team All-Mid-East League selection. Nelson was a first team 3A all-state football player and earned Top 22 honors in the state of Kansas as a quarterback/defensive back. In 2003, he played in the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Nelson was also an outstanding track and field athlete winning the 100 (10.63), 200 (21.64), 400 (48.79) and long jump (22-09.50) titles his senior year in Class 3A. He was also an all-state basketball player averaging 17.2 points per game his senior year for the Falcons. Nelsons older brother Mike, a 2002 graduate of Riley, was also an all-state basketball and football player.

Nelson began his college career as a walk-on at Kansas State University, and took his redshirt year on the 2003 Big 12 Championship team. Nelson was set to play defensive back in college, but during spring practice following his first year, Coach Bill Snyder moved him to wide receiver. During his sophomore campaign, Nelson caught 45 passes for 8 touchdowns, elevating expectations for the junior wide receiver, as he was listed on the Biletnikoff Award watch list. Injuries kept him off the field most of his junior year, leading to a disappointing junior season, in which he only caught 39 balls for 1 touchdown.