If Seabreeze star Charles Nelson ever needed any further proof that his recovery and rehabilitation from last season's ACL tear had come full circle, he's certainly gotten it from outside parties in the past few weeks.
Thursday he was offered a scholarship by Notre Dame, giving him three major offers in the past 18 days, with Florida and Southern Cal also joining the fray. The Notre Dame offer gives Nelson 20 scholarships from FBS member schools, so far.
Daytona Beach Seabreeze head Coach Marc Beach said Nelson's recovery from last year's injury is just a testament to the hard-working Nelson and it doesn't surprise him, albeit he did say he was surprised the offers did not come sooner.
"He's an extremely hard worker and it wasn't just trying to get back with his lower body, but also his upper body," Beach said of Nelson's workout regimen during his rehab. "He's been that way ever since I've known him, as far as working and training and doing what he has to do.
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"I am surprised that it has taken them this long [to offer], but I also know that these guys invest a lot of money in these kids and they want to make sure he's 100 percent healthy, but three games in I think he proved that he was back."
He did have 17 scholarship offers before the injury, but the attention came to an abrupt halt when it happened. Nonetheless, he's back on the radar in a big way.
Beach said Notre Dame is recruiting the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Nelson, who also has offer from the likes of Miami, Michigan State and Wisconsin, as a slot receiver, while USC is looking at him as a cornerback. He has sub-4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash andNelson said he might even be faster than he was before the injury.
"[Notre Dame] would put him in motion, and send him on jet sweeps, that kind of stuff," Beach said. "USC wants him as a corner, and then he's so dangerous in the return game that it gives them that extra reason to look at him ... I would expect the offers to pick up, too."
As a receiver this season, Nelson has 33 catches for 480 yards and seven touchdowns. He has also rushed 23 times for 71 yards and three touchdowns and has three kick return touchdowns. On defense, he averages about six tackles per game and has four interceptions and two tackles for loss.
One offer Nelson, the No. 1 player in the Sentinel's 2014 Central Florida Super60 and the No. 23-ranked player in the Sentinel's 2014 Florida Top 100, would like to get is from Florida State, but the Beach said hte Seminoles have not been in touch.
Seabreeze opens the Class 6A state playoffs Friday night at Leesburg.
