Not only did Nelson establish school records for receptions (122) and receiving yardage (1,606 yards), but he also had punt returns of 89 and 92 yards for touchdowns. That special teams feat is all the more special considering that Nelson only returned five punts all season. Nelson even attempted four passes and completed two, both for touchdowns.

And all of this he did as a newlywed.

"We got married last June," says Nelson, who wed Emily Rothlisberger, a former college basketball player at Bethel College. "We were high school sweethearts. She grew up just three miles down the road from me."

In fact, Jordy and Emily have known one another since kindergarten. Listening to Nelson describe his upbringing conjures an America that seemingly disappeared decades ago. A family farm. Marrying the first girl you ever had a crush on. Success as a by-product of hard work and perseverance.

"I never thought of quitting," Nelson says. "When I went to Kansas State my goal was just to get on the field and play."

After all, he was a farm kid. The only combine in his future, it seemed, would be the type that harvests crops. In fact, when Nelson was first able to suit up with the team as a redshirt freshman, his parents, brother and sister would drive to Manhattan on Saturdays, thrilled to see him participate in pregame warmups. Then Jordy's older brother, Mike, would drive home before kickoff to drive the combine.

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Nelson improved steadily, though. His breakout game occurred last Sept. 29. The Wildcats shocked No. 7 Texas in Austin, 41-21, with Nelson gaining 206 all-purpose yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns (including the 92-yarder on a punt). He continued to impress all season and in December was named a first-team All-America selection at wide receiver along with Texas Tech's otherworldly freshman, Michael Crabtree.

Nelson even impressed everyone at the NFL combine in Indianapolis, scoring high on the Wonderlic test (28) while debunking any myths about his lack of speed with a 4.49 in the 40. One NFL scout said of him, "He may not be the most elite talent, but he's got the least amount of warts."

Approaching Saturday, few mock drafters have Nelson being one of the top five receivers taken, even though no other D-I wideout in the draft made even two-thirds of the catches Nelson did last season or came close to equaling his receiving yardage. Names such as Devin Thomas (Michigan State), Limas Sweed (Texas), James Hardy (Indiana), Malcolm Kelly (Oklahoma) and DeSean Jackson (California) all appear before his.

Nelson says that only one team has invited him for a visit. That would be the Washington Redskins, who are glad they took a chance a few years ago on an overachiever out of Utah State named Chris Cooley.

College recruiters can be forgiven. Leonardville may be just a two-hour drive from the USA's contiguous center, but it is light years distant from SportsCenter. NFL GMs do not have that excuse.

Jordy Nelson is a walk-on who blossomed into an All-America selection at a glamour position. In agriculture, you'd call that a bumper crop. In the National Football League, you'd call him a second-round steal.

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