Newest Sooner wants to fulfill more goals

Related Stories: OU recruiting update OU football commitment list Oklahoma's Juco Hit and Misses When Chaz Nelson first got to Garden City Community College on the sprawling plains of Western Kansas, he saw the long list of names on the wall depicting Broncbuster All-Americans. He resolved that day he would see his name added to that wall. "That was just my mindset the whole time there, just staying focused and being dedicated to this game of football , because it's something I have a passion for," Nelson told the Tulsa World in a telephone interview. "It's something I work hard at, man, and it just paid off. It really did." It paid off when he was named a junior college All-American defensive end. It paid off when he was accorded Jayhawk Conference defensive player of the year honors. And it paid off when he got a scholarship to the University of Oklahoma. "I'm humbled by the whole situation," Nelson said. "Because this is an opportunity that everyone doesn't have, so I'm just cherishing every moment of this." Nelson started classes at OU last week and will need to be an immediate contributor when spring practice starts March 21. The plan is for him to step into the big-play position vacated by senior Big 12 defensive player of the year Frank Alexander and early NFL departure Ronnell Lewis. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound Nelson, who has two years' eligibility in Norman, is one of six new Sooners on campus for the spring semester. At least 13 other newcomers - they'll sign up National Signing Day on Feb. 1 - will arrive in the summer or when the fall term begins. Nelson is the sixth Broncbuster All-American to choose Oklahoma since 2001. OU's 2012 recruiting class currently is ranked ninth by Rivals.com, thanks in part to the expected impact of three junior college players: Nelson, cornerback Kass Everett and tight end Brannon Green. Junior college transfers frequently come in more prepared to play than freshmen. They're two years older and already have made the adjustment to more challenging training habits, a more rigorous college curricula and simply making their own way away from home. "That's the whole premise of junior college guys," said Garden City coach Jeff Tatum. "They have an easier transition than a high school guy because they've been exposed to all the aspects of college life and being a student athlete in college ." Junior college transfers can carry risk. Most have only two years and so need to be ready to play right away. There is little time for adjustment or orientation. In many cases, if they're not ready immediately, that scholarship has been almost wasted. In 13 seasons under Bob Stoops, OU has averaged three juco transfers per year. Most have worked out fine. Some were stars. Others came in with five-star promise but made little or impact. Some never even made it to the first day of practice. Nelson does seem to have an appreciation for his lot. He hails from Columbus, Ohio, where more Ohio State fans fill Ohio Stadium on game day than live in a 50-mile radius around Garden City. Nelson's junior college is so far west, it's actually closer to Denver than it is Topeka. "It's hard. It's hard being in an environment where, like, nothing is around you and you're so used to being in the city," he said. "I knew being out there in the middle of nowhere I wasn't going to make this a wasteful two years. So I had to just stay focused and move on." Nelson attended a camp at Ohio State once, but never got a scholarship offer from the Buckeyes. He first received interest from Toledo, but said he lacked the grades. He was poised to sign on with Division II Urbana (Ohio) University , but a Toledo coach suggested he try junior college . He redshirted the 2009 season at Garden City, and after he became a starter in 2010, Tatum was hired. Nelson figured he'd jump on the first offer he got - that came from Iowa State - but Tatum convinced him he might get a better offer with another year on the Kansas prairie. "Coach Tatum promised me, he said, 'If you come back another year, I guarantee you you'll go somewhere you will want to go to and somewhere you will enjoy; bigger, better school, everything,' " Nelson said. "So I did that and I ended up at Oklahoma." John E. Hoover 918-581-8384 john.hoover@tulsaworld.com SUBHEAD: All-American jucodefensive end Nelson isset to contribute at OU.