The K-State Ring of Honor honors an elite group of Wildcat players who have achieved success on and off the field, have a high quality of character, have represented K-State well, have achieved All-American status or have performed at a “program-transformational level that warrants consideration” and are five-years removed from K-State, according to K-State Sports.
K-State will be adding four more Wildcat greats to the ring including Clarence Scott, Michael Bishop, Jordy Nelson and Darren Sproles on Sept. 5 at K-State football’s season opener against South Dakota State.
Next up is a player who was a definite bright spot in the darkness of the Ron Prince years, wide receiver Jordy Nelson.
One of only two walk-ons to be inducted (the other being punter Sean Snyder who was inducted in 2002), Nelson would soon become the blueprint for small-town blue-collar Kansas kids who walk-on to get a chance to play on Saturdays.
Nelson originally played defensive back at K-State after playing quarterback from Riley County High School before moving to wide receiver, where he excelled.
What did he do at K-State?:
Nelson was dominant during his time at K-State setting multiple Wildcat records that are still standing including receptions in one game (15 twice in ’07 ), receptions in a season (122 in ’07), yards in a season (1,606 in ’07), and yards per game (133.8 in ’07). He led K-State in receptions and yards in 2005-07.
Nelson also was part of the teams that knocked off No. 4 and No. 7 Texas respectively in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Nelson can also be found holding up head coach Bill Snyder as he was carried off the field after his final game of his first tenure.
He also was a consensus All-American and a finalist for the 2007 Biletnikoff Award given to college football’s top receiver.
How was his pro career?:
Nelson was taken as the 36th pick in the NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers in 2008. Since then, he’s been a force in the league racking up 400 receptions for over 6,000 yards and 49 touchdowns.
In 2010, he became one of four receivers in Super Bowl history to record nine or more receptions, at least 140 yards and a touchdown in the Packers Super Bowl XLV win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Last season, he was selected to his first ever Pro Bowl and earned second team All-Pro accolades by the Associated Press.
Unfortunately, it was announced last week that Nelson will be missing the 2015 season after suffering a torn ACL in a preseason game against the Steelers.
Where is he from?:
Born May 31, 1985 in Manhattan, Kansas. Nelson went to Riley County High School where he was a three-sports athlete excelling in all three gaining second-team All-State consideration for both quarterback and defensive back, first-team All-State in basketball and won four 3A track titles.
What do people who saw him in action say?:
Steve Wagner coached Jordy Nelson at Riley County High School in Riley, Kansas, and still coaches and teaches physical education at Riley. He reflects on coaching Jordy and the type of player he’s become.
“One of the things that makes Jordy special is that he is the same guy now that he was in high school,” Wagner said. “He competes extremely hard, yet still has fun playing the game. Great players make the people around them better…that is what Jordy has always done.”
