Before safety Scott Nelson even arrived on campus at the University of Wisconsin last summer, defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard knew the Detroit native could rise to the top of the Badgers' depth chart early in his career.
Nelson already had the talent and mentality to compete at the next level. And even though a hamstring injury kept him out of fall camp and ultimately led to a redshirt, Leonhard's confidence in Nelson only grew as last season progressed.
"He watched almost as much tape as anybody, and he knew he wasn't going to play a snap," Leonhard said.