Maurice Nelson Class: RS Junior Hometown: Rembert, SC High School: Crestwood Height / Weight: 6-2 / 215 Position: LB Experience: 2 VL Major: Sociology

Nelson Fact: Leading tackler (6) in the spring game.
Years Lettered: 2004,05
Bowl Participation: Special teams player in the 2005 Champs Sports Bowl against Colorado.
Fall 2006 Depth Chart Position: Reserve weakside linebacker

Overview: Named most improved outside linebacker for 2006 spring practice by the coaches...reserve linebacker in 2004 and 2005; he has also played various safety positions in his career...veteran of 22 games the last two years; he has missed just one game; has played 120 snaps...did a 590-pound squat lift that was ninth-best on the team...has a 39" vertical jump, second-best on the team...fourth-strongest player on the team on a pound-for-pound basis with a power index of 7.15...has a 10'1.5" broad jump that is second-best on the team.

2005: Played in 11 of the 12 games; he missed the Duke game...played a career-high 32 plays against Temple; he had two tackles...played on defense in eight of the 11 games...had a tackle at N.C. State in 13 plays.

2004: Earned a letter as a rover...played 47 snaps in 11 games; he played 18 of the snaps against Utah State when he had two tackles...had two stops against Virginia...played on defense in nine games...played on special teams in every game, but all six of his tackles were on defensive scrimmage plays.

2003: Red-shirted.

Before Clemson: Top-10 player in the state by South Carolina Pigskin Prep and South Carolina High School Sports Report...#4 player in the state by BorderWars.com and Rivals.com...#5 player in South Carolina by Charlotte Observer...PrepStar All-American...SuperPrep and Tom Lemming All-Mid Atlantic Team member...#16 defensive back in the nation by Rivals.com...top-50 player in the South by Atlanta Constitution...CBS Sports All-Southeast Team member...North-South Game participant...all-district and all-area from 2000-02...all-region and all-state in 2001,02...had 137 tackles, eight sacks, four interceptions, and five recovered fumbles...team defensive MVP...four-time letterman in football...all-state weightlifter in 2001,02...2002 state champion in the 205-pound class...coached by Keith Crolley...chose Clemson over Georgia, Maryland, and South Carolina...born Apr. 1, 1985...majoring in sociology.