Lee Nelson
Lee Nelson 
Full Name:  Lee Martin Nelson
   School:  Melbourne High School in Melbourne, Florida
            Pensacola JC in Pensacola, Florida

Legacy Bricks:  Legacy Walk Map Link
   1987 Football HOF - Loc 27


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FSU Career
Football
Year  No  Pos     Hgt  Wgt  Cl  Ltr  Hometown
1974  46  DB      5-10 183  Jr   *   Melbourne                   
1975  46  DB      5-10 185  Sr   *   Melbourne


Conference Awards
Football
Year  Award
1975  All-South Independent - Honorable Mention


Member of the FSU Hall of Fame
Elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1987
One of the hardest hitters to ever roam the Seminoles secondary, Lee Nelson earned his place in the Florida State Hall of Fame after spending just two years on the campus. Upon transferring from Pensacola Junior College in 1974, Nelson walked on to the Seminole team and promptly won a starting cornerback job. He led the Tribe in tackles that year (86) and as a senior, was named the Seminole MVP on defense. He finished his collegiate career by playing in the American Bowl All-Star game.

As a 15th round draft choice of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976, no one expected the little-known Nelson to make an NFL roster. Yet with odds against him once again, Nelson not only made the club but went on to spend the next 11 years with the Cardinals, playing in the defensive secondary and on the kickoff and return teams. He retired from pro football in 1986.



FSU Statistics
Football
Season Statistics
Defense
         |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
Year  GP |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
---------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
1974  11 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
1975  11 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  1  2-  0- 0 |   2- 23- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
---------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot   22 |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  1  2-  0- 0 |   2- 23- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0   0   0  |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0

Offense/Kick and Punt Returns
         |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
Year  GP |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
---------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
1974  11 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |    0
1975  11 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-  0 - 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1    0  0.0  0   0  |   23
---------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot   22 |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1    0  0.0  0      |   23
Football
Game Participation
                            |      Starts
1974                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 14 Pittsburgh           |  1           
Sep 21 Colorado State       |  1       LC  
Sep 28 Kansas               |  1           
Oct  5 Baylor               |  1       LC  
Oct 12 Alabama              |  1       LC  
Oct 19 Florida              |  1       RC  
Oct 26 Auburn               |  1       RCB 
Nov  2 Memphis State        |  1       CB  
Nov  8 Miami                |  1       RC  
Nov 16 Virginia Tech        |  1       LC  
Nov 23 Houston              |  1       LC  
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         | 11   0    9

                            |      Starts
1975                        | GP  Off  Def
----------------------------|--------------
Sep 13 Texas Tech           |  1       RC  
Sep 20 Utah State           |  1       RC  
Sep 27 Iowa State           |  1       RC  
Oct  4 Georgia Tech         |  1       RCB 
Oct 11 Virginia Tech        |  1       RC  
Oct 18 Florida              |  1       RC  
Oct 25 Auburn               |  1       RC  
Nov  1 Clemson              |  1       RC  
Nov  8 Memphis State        |  1       RC  
Nov 15 Miami                |  1       RC  
Nov 22 Houston              |  1       RC  
----------------------------|--------------
Tot                         | 11   0   11

----------------------------|--------------
Career Tot                  | 22   0   20
Football
Game Statistics
                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1974                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 28 Kansas               |   3   1   4  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 12 Alabama              |   5   2   7  1.0-  2 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov  2 Memphis State        |   7   2   9  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov  8 Miami                |   2   3   5  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |  17   8  25  1.0-  2 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  0 |   0

                            |       Tackles        |   Sacks  |    Fumble    |     Pass Defense    | Blkd |   PAT Attempts  |        |         |    |
1975                        |  ua   a Tot  tfl-yds |   no-yds | ff fr-yds-td | int-yds-td qbh brup | kick |   kick  rsh rcv |   fg   | saf dxp | td | pts
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Sep 13 Texas Tech           |   4   1   5  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  1  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 20 Utah State           |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   1- 14- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Sep 27 Iowa State           |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  1-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct  4 Georgia Tech         |   6   0   6  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 11 Virginia Tech        |   5   1   6  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Oct 18 Florida              |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  1-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov 15 Miami                |   0   0   0  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   1-  9- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
Nov 22 Houston              |   3   0   3  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  0  0-  0- 0 |   0-  0- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |   0   0 |  0 |   0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------|--------------|---------------------|------|-----------------|--------|---------|----|----
Tot                         |  18   2  20  0.0-  0 |  0.0-  0 |  1  2-  0- 0 |   2- 23- 0   0   0  |   0  |   0- 0    0   0 |  0- 0  |  0    0 |  0 |   0


                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1974                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 28 Kansas               |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct 12 Alabama              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Nov  2 Memphis State        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Nov  8 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   0    0  0.0  0      |    0

                            |       Rushing        |      Receiving       |         Passing          |     Kick Returns      |     Punt Returns      |  all
1975                        |  no  yds  avg td lg  |  no  yds  avg td lg  | cmp- att-int  yds td lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  |  no  yds  avg td  lg  | purp
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Sep 13 Texas Tech           |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Sep 20 Utah State           |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Sep 27 Iowa State           |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct  4 Georgia Tech         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct 11 Virginia Tech        |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Oct 18 Florida              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Nov 15 Miami                |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |    -   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   0    0  0.0  0      |     
Nov 22 Houston              |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0         |   1    0  0.0  0    0 |    0
----------------------------|----------------------|----------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------------|-----
Tot                         |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0     |   0-   0- 0     0  0     |   0    0  0.0  0      |   1    0  0.0  0      |    0


Pro Career
Football
Height: 5-10  Weight: 185
Drafted: 1976, 15th Round  #420, St. Louis  Cardinals, DB    
Debut: September 12, 1976

Year  Abbr   Team                                No      Pos
1976  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      DB
1977  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      DB
1978  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      CB
1979  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      CB
1980  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      DB
1981  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      CB
1982  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      CB
1983  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      CB
1984  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      CB
1985  StL    St. Louis  Cardinals                38      CB


Pro Statistics
Football
Defensive Statistics
Year  Team  GP  GS    TK  Ast  Tot  Sack   TFL QBH  Int  Yds TD  PD  FF FR  Yds TD
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1976  StL    9   2               0   0.0              0    0  0       0  1    0  0
1977  StL   10   7               0   0.0              4   37  0       0  0    0  0
1978  StL   16   1               0   0.0              1   -3  0       0  0    0  0
1979  StL   16   0               0   0.0              0    0  0       0  1    0  0
1980  StL   16  10               0   0.0              0    0  0       0  1    0  0
1981  StL   15  15               0   0.0              0    0  0       0  2    0  0
1982  StL    8   7               0   0.0              1    7  0       0  0    0  0
1983  StL   16  16               0   2.0              1    8  0       0  4   36  1
1984  StL   16   6               0   3.0              0    0  0       0  0    0  0
1985  StL   13   0               0   0.0              0    0  0       0  0    0  0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years   135  64     0    0    0   5.0   0.0   0    7   49  0   0   0  9   36  1

Special Teams Statistics
Year Team  GP    KR  Yds  Avg Long TD    PR  Yds  Avg Long TD
-------------------------------------------------------------
1976 StL    9     1   43 43.0  43   0     0    0  0.0   0   0
1977 StL   10     3   68 22.7  36   0     1    4  4.0   4   0
1978 StL   16     3   58 19.3  22   0     0    0  0.0   0   0
1979 StL   16     0    0  0.0   0   0     4   88 22.0  77   0
1980 StL   16     1   29 29.0  29   0     1    5  5.0   5   0
1981 StL   15     0    0  0.0   0   0     0    0  0.0   0   0
1982 StL    8     0    0  0.0   0   0     0    0  0.0   0   0
1983 StL   16     0    0  0.0   0   0     0    0  0.0   0   0
1984 StL   16     0    0  0.0   0   0     0    0  0.0   0   0
1985 StL   13     3   49 16.3  26   0     2   14  7.0   8   0
-------------------------------------------------------------
10 Years  135    11  247 22.5  43   0     8  111 13.9  77   0