University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Nelson Named Freshman All-American By CollegeFootballNews.com
12/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 6, 2005
Hattiesburg, Miss. - Southern Miss redshirt freshman Shawn Nelson was named a second-team Freshman All-American by CollegeFootballNews.com, an online football publication, today. This marks the Golden Eagles' seventh freshman All-American since 1996.
Nelson, who was named third-team All-Conference USA and to the C-USA All-Freshman team, is Southern Miss' second-leading receiver with 29 catches for 419 yards, an average of 14.4 yards per catch and scored three touchdowns. Nelson finished with the best tight end performance since Bobby Garner finished the 2001 season with 27 catches for 374 yards and two touchdowns.
He had a career day against Tulane on Nov. 26, finishing with a five catches for a 113 yards and had a career-long 63-yard touchdown reception. He finished with three or more catches in six games, including 12 catches in the final three games and had 50 or more yards receiving in four games. He had catches of 20 yards or more eight times.
The 100-yard receiving game by Nelson was the first of his career and the fourth 100-yard receiving game by a Golden Eagle receiver this season, joining Josh Barnes (103, Houston), Antwon Courington (118, East Carolina) and Chris Johnson (113, UAB). He caught his third career touchdown on a 63-yard reception in the third quarter. It was only the second 100-yard receiving game by a tight end in school history, as Marvin Harvey had the first, with three catches for 144 yards against Hawaii on Oct. 15, 1977.
Southern Miss finished 6-5 overall and 5-3 in Conference USA and recently accepted an invitation to play in the New Orleans Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., CT, its eighth bowl game in the past nine years, including four straight. The 6-5 record also is the 12th straight winning season for the Golden Eagles, who is one of only seven schools that have achieved the mark.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets from the Southern Miss Ticket Office. Premium sideline tickets are $40 each, Goal line tickets are $20 each and Southern Miss student tickets are $20 each. Priority ticket deadline is Fri., Dec. 9 at 1 p.m., and for ticket information call 1-800-844-TICK, 601-266-5418 or visit www.southernmiss.com.
