2017 Football Roster
Jersey Number 21
Patrick Nelson
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-2 / 210
- Position:
- DB
- Hometown:
- Chicago, Ill.
- High School:
- Hales Franciscan
Career Highs
Tackles: 16 at Nebraska, 10/1/16
Solos: 10 at Rutgers, 10/15/16
TFLs: 1.5 at Rutgers, 10/15/16
Sacks: 0.5 at Rutgers, 10/15/16
Fumbles Forced: 1, twice (last vs. Nebarska, 9/29/17)
Fumbles Recovered: 1, twice (last at Iowa, 10/7/17)
PBUs: 1, twice (last at Iowa, 10/7/17)
2017 Sophomore
- Played in 10 games with eight starts at safety
- Missed two games with an injury
- 65 tackles (32 solo), 2.5 TFLs, two pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
- Tied for third on the team in tackles (65)
- Third on the team in forced fumbles (2)
- Third on the team in tackles during Big Ten games (51)
- Transferred following the season
2016 Redshirt Freshman
- Played in all 12 games with six starts at safety
- ESPN.com and Big Ten Network All-Freshman Team
- Third on the team with 75 tackles (34 solo)
- 2.5 TFLs, 0.5 sack, one fumble recovery on the season
- Averaged 9.6 tackles during five Big Ten road games
- Tied Illinois season-high 16 tackles at Nebraska in first career start
- Three games with 10+ tackles (at Nebraska, at Rutgers, at Wisconsin)
- Career-high 10 solo tackles at Rutgers (14 total tackles), including his first 0.5 sack and career-best 1.5 TFLs to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors
- Fumble recovery in the opener against Murray State
- Academic All-Big Ten
2015 Freshman
- Redshirted the 2015 season due to injury
High School
- Three-star recruit by 247Sports, ESPN.com, Rivals and Scout
- Ranked as the No. 10 player in Illinois by Rivals
- Ranked as the No. 1 safety prospect in Illinois by Scout, No. 2 by 247Sports and ESPN.com
- Two-time All-Area and three-time All-Conference as a safety/running back
Personal
- Born Oct. 23, 1996
- Son of Patrice Nelson
- Has three brothers and four sisters
- Enrolled in general studies
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 3/5/26
Thursday, March 05
Illinois Football | Bobby Hauck Introductory Press Conference 2/12/26
Thursday, February 12
Illinois Football | Bret Bielema Press Conference 2/4/26
Thursday, February 05
Illinois Football | Xavier Scott Return Announcement Press Conference Press Conference 1/21/26
Wednesday, January 21
