Hersey will miss injured Nelson 'like crazy'

This has been a good-news, bad-news summer for Hersey senior-to-be Steve Nelson.

The good came a few weeks ago when the quarterback-defensive back verbally accepted a scholarship offer from Illinois State.

The bad came just a few days earlier when Nelson tore the ACL in his right knee during a summer basketball game. Nelson said he'll have surgery in early August and will miss his football and basketball seasons.

"They (Illinois State) weren't down about the injury at all," said Nelson, who was recruited as a nickelback and safety. "They kind of acted like it wasn't really a big deal."

Losing the multitalented Nelson is a big deal for Hersey.

He hoped to follow the path of his brother Tom, who led the Huskies to the playoffs as a senior, starred at ISU and is headed to the Cincinnati Bengals training camp as a free agent.

"We're going to miss him like crazy," said Hersey coach Mark Gunther. "His goals were really high and he set goals to be an all-state quarterback."

Nelson made an impression on ISU when he ran a 4.5 40-yard dash at a one-day camp. The third-year varsity starter hoped to make a similar impact on the Mid-Suburban League East Division this fall.

"We had great expectations for everyone on the team." Nelson said. "This was the first time all of our senior group was going to play as one.

"There's talent everywhere and we're loaded. It's kind of a bummer."

Nelson said the injury occurred when he tried to make a cut and his foot got caught on the court.

"He's been handling it really well," Gunther said. "Immediately he said there's nothing you can do about it.

"Obviously he's bummed but he's not going to waste any negative energy into feeling sorry for himself.

"For us as a team we had time to come to grips with it and readjust roles."

Taking over at quarterback will be senior Brandon Klein, who was projected to be one of the Huskies' top receivers. Klein has been Nelson's backup the last three seasons and took all the junior varsity reps last fall.

"He's doing well now," Nelson said. "He's evolving into a good quarterback."

It will require some changes offensively but the good news includes the return of an experienced offensive line.

"We had a great summer in terms of where we want to be," Gunther said, "and dealing with the setback and having guys step up.

"I'm really pleased with our progress and I feel we're way ahead of where we were at this time last year."

Nelson's goal for a year from now is to be well ahead of where he's at right now.

"I look at it as a challenge," Nelson said. "That's the only way you can look at it and try to keep a positive attitude throughout.

"If you hope for the best you can only expect the best."

Hersey will do the same without Steve Nelson.