Player: Tom Nelson
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Position: Safety
Jersey #: 43
Drafted: Undrafted 2009
Height: 5' 11"
Weight: 203
Pro Career: Benglas 2009 - present

PERSONAL NOTES: son of Tom and Cheryl Nelson ... one of four children ... his father, Tom, was a member of the golf team at Northwestern ... major: marketing ... named once to the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll.

COLLEGE AWARDS AND RECORDS: A four-year standout in FCS play at Illinois State, Nelson started all 46 games he played over the 2005-08 seasons … Totaled 266 tackles, seven INTs, 21 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries … Also averaged 22.8 yards on 84 career kickoff returns and 10.8 yards on 34 career punt returns … As a senior, had a 97-yard KO return for a TD at Western Illinois and an 82-yard punt return for a score at Murray State … Led team with 81 tackles as a senior, and led Missouri Valley Conference in punt returns, averaging 15.6 yards on 17 returns … As a junior, had two INTs against Chase Daniel, Missouri’s Heisman Trophy finalist … Had career-high 86 tackles as a junior, ranking third on team … Helped Redbirds to 9-4 season as a sophomore in 2006, when his career-high four INTs included a pair of thefts against Kansas State … Named as conference Freshman of the Year in 2005, when he started all 11 games and posted 57 tackles .

NFL CAREER: Joined Bengals on April 30 as college free agent, and was one of two CFAs to make the season-opening 53-player roster to open the season … Has played in six games (Games 4 and 6-10), with two tackles on defense and three on special teams … Inactive for Games 1-3 and 5 … Made NFL debut Oct. 4 at Cleveland, playing on special teams, and logged one tackle … Had one tackle on both defense and special teams Oct. 18 vs. Houston and Oct. 25 vs. Chicago ... Played in all four preseason games, logging seven tackles, one sack and a forced fumble