SaberCats activate WR Amey, bring back WR Nelson

May 4, 2011SABERCATS PAGE
SAN JOSEThe SaberCats today announced 2010 First-Team All-Arena WR Ben Nelson has rejoined the SaberCats for the 2011 season, where he spent his first two years in the AFL (2006-07). The team also announced WR Otis Amey has been activated off of the injured reserve list as well as the addition of FBLB Chris Bruhn (6-3, 270).Ben has proven time and again that he is one of the most explosive players in the AFL today, said OwnerHead Coach Darren Arbet. He enjoyed great success with us from 2006-07 and hell be a key contributor for the team in the receiving corps moving forward.Nelson (6-3, 190) spent the 2010 season with the Cleveland Gladiators, where he was named first-team All-Arena after setting career highs in receptions (151), receiving yards (1,867) and receiving touchdowns (47) in only 14 games. For his career, Nelson has caught 472 passes for 5,887 yards and 128 touchdowns in 51 regular season contests.Nelson spent his first two seasons in the AFL with the SaberCats, where he was named the 2006 AFL Rookie of the Year after setting franchise rookie records with 94 receptions, 1,405 yards and 26 touchdowns. In his second season with San Jose, Nelson totaled 101 receptions for 1,257 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns in 11 games prior to being signed by the Atlanta Falcons during the offseason. In two postseasons with the SaberCats, Nelson totaled 38 receptions for 490 yards and 14 touchdowns in five games, setting the then-SaberCats postseason single-game record in catches (12), receiving yards (202) and touchdowns (six) in his first career playoff game on May 27, 2006.Following his stint with the Falcons, Nelson spent 2008 with the Colorado Crush, totaling 126 receptions for 1,358 yards and 30 touchdowns.Nelson was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2003 out of St. Cloud State (MN). He made the roster and contributed on special teams, playing in three games for Minnesota.An All-American and North Central Conference Most Valuable Receiver as a senior at St. Cloud State, Nelson holds the school record for touchdown receptions (43) and points (266) while finishing second all-time in receptions and third in receiving yards. He held a streak of 34 consecutive games with a reception for the Huskies.A native of Coon Rapids, MN, Nelson attended Anoka High School (MN) where he earned all-conference honors as well as all-state and all-metro honorable mentions.Courtesy San Jose SaberCats media services