After the first game of the 2014 season against South Dakota, it already looked as if Charles Nelson would mold into a similar version of former Oregon running back De’Anthony Thomas. The comparison was too hard to resist.
He graced No. 6 and had wowed an Autzen Stadium crowd on a punt return during the Ducks’ home-opener, the way Thomas had done three years before him.
He soon became the type of player who needed to be on the field in any facet. From the Ducks’ matchup with Cal on Oct. 24 to the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Jan. 12, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound true freshman was used on offense regularly.
Nelson racked up 428 yards of total offense and five touchdowns in 2014, including a performance in the Pac-12 Championship game in which he caught seven passes for 104 yards and carried the ball four times for 44 yards.
So, it came as a shock on Monday when Oregon announced that Nelson would be making the switch to defensive back.
The all-purpose athlete on both offense and special teams figured to be a viable threat that made opposing defensive coordinator’s lose sleep at night in 2015. But, the Ducks’ coaching staff had a different idea for him in the weeks after its 42-20 loss to Ohio State.
Now, cornerback it is.
“I’m willing to help the team wherever it’s needed,” Nelson said, on April 1 after Oregon’s second spring practice. “Coaches felt like it was a better move for me in the future. I told them ‘I’m okay’.”
Last season it seemed a tug-of-war was occurring between defensive and offensive coaches to have Nelson’s versatility on their side of the ball. It was well-documented that defensive backs coach John Neal tried to lure Nelson to defense. He has him now.
But, spring football in a sense garners a similarity to 2014’s fall camp for Nelson. Now a true sophomore, he’s back to the square one he was at when he joined the program.
“It’s a new beginning,” Nelson said. “Lots of things to learn, new coach to take advice from.”
A likely cause for the switch is the departures of multiple defensive backs, including NFL prospects Erick Dargan and Troy Hill.
“Just trying to create some competition,” head coach Mark Helfrich said. “When you start to talk to a guy about a position change a lot of times it’s, ‘Yeah I’ll do it.’ But with him it’s, ‘Yup, I’m in.’ He’s a great teammate and loves to compete, run and hit.”
Nelson, who recorded 57 tackles and four interceptions as a safety during his senior year at Seabreeze High School in Florida,  said that it is in fact an “experiment.” A place will still be open for him on offense if “I’m not getting it and nothing’s really happening.”
What remains clear though, is that Nelson’s activity won’t be limited. His 17 tackles – 10 solo – on special teams in 2014 displays his knack to get to ballcarriers.
“I have no doubt he’ll be great wherever we have him,” offensive coordinator Scott Frost said.
As for coming back to offense though, Frost said, “we’ll see.”
Follow Justin Wise on Twitter @JustinFWise