Outside the Huddle and Blitz are counting down who they feel are the top 50 individual players in northeast Indiana heading into the 2024 season.
Our highest preseason honor, the 6th annual First Eleven profiles the top players (in the mind of Outside the Huddle) entering the fall.
No. 9: RB/LB Kimar Nelson, senior, Wayne
As instinctual of a linebacker as we have in this area, Nelson is equal parts intelligent, fundamentally sound and a punisher when it comes to finishing off tackles.
Nelson is used in a variety of ways at outside linebacker. He can drop in coverage, with film from 2023 showing several plays in which he tracked down ball carriers downfield to make a tackle. When he is asked to read the line of scrimmage and make a play, seemingly no one is as quick and strong enough to keep the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Nelson from disrupting an offense.
A year ago, Nelson led Wayne in both tackles (92) and tackles for loss (22.5). He also paced the Generals with nine sacks, including four against Bishop Luers.
Offensively, Nelson rushed for 529 yards and six touchdowns. His usage on offense this year will be dictated by situations that Coach Sherwood Haydock deems it necessarily to need a bulldozer in the backfield, such as short-yardage.
COACH’S QUOTE ON KIMAR NELSON“Kimar is the best defensive player I’ve ever coached and the second-best high school linebacker I’ve ever seen (Jaylon Smith). He has an enormous wing span. He has a great attitude and the only thing I can knock him on is he is too quiet.”– Wayne coach Sherwood Haydock
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