Aden Nelson, left, applies the defensive pressure during a game against Ballard at Lexington Catholic. Nelson signed to play football at West Virginia without ever visiting the school. (Larry Vaught Photo)
Recruiting is not an exact science and sometimes can lead to some really interesting recruiting sagas.
That’s exactly what happened last month with Woodford County standout Aden Nelson, a 6-2, 185-pound safety-receiver who helped the Yellow Jackets reach the state quarterfinals before losing to eventual Class AAAAA champ Frederick Douglass, went into national signing week thinking he was headed for Western Kentucky and then signed with West Virginia.
“It was a fast process. The week before signing day West Virginia came to see me and we had conversations in person. Once signing day came I was going to hold off until February and then that day West Virginia offered and I had to step back and re-evaluate,” said Nelson.
“When they offered, I had to think about it and a couple of days later I felt that was the right decision and I communicated with West Virginia and signed.”
Nelson had 41 catches for 743 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and ran 16 times for 314 yards and four scores. On defense, he had 56 tackles, including 44 solo stops, along with three interceptions. He also had four interceptions in 2021.
He dealt mainly with West Virginia defensive backs coach Shadon Brown, a former Danville High School player.
“He was really open and honest about everything West Virginia had to offer and what he expected from me if I came there,” Nelson said. “Just his honesty and the communication he had with my family was just wonderful.”
Nelson, a three-star safety prospect in the ESPN rankings, said he had “no idea” West Virginia had “eyes on me” when Brown came to see him.
“It kind of came out of nowhere. It was super quick,” Nelson said.
So quick that he has yet to make a visit to West Virginia and may not any time soon because he also plays basketball at Woodford for his father, Jaron Brown, a Louisville native and former University of Pittsburgh basketball standout.
“I wanted to take a visit before I signed but things can happen and with me being a two-sport athlete I wanted to go ahead and sign,” he said. “People have told me it is just a college town. I will see for myself soon but I know I will like it.”
He did find he had connections with West Virginia head coach Neal Brown that he knew nothing about.
“I got on the phone with him and he was telling me how he went to Boyle County and he played against (Woodford County football coach) Dennis (Johnson)in football and basketball and my dad in summer basketball,” Nelson said. “So I do know a little bit about him and I can’t wait to find out even more.”
