Tag Archives: nelson spruce

AAF, NFL

Spruce, Nelson (2)

CARDS: Topps XFL 2020 Certified, Topps XFL 2020, Topps XFL 2020 NOW, Topps AAF Certified 2019 HACK, Panini Contenders Draft Picks 2016 Gameday, Sage 2016 Artistry
ACQUIRED: Personal Break, 2020. TTM 2019, C/o Home. TTM 2024, C/o Home
SENT: 6/3/19 RECEIVED: 6/15/20 (378 days)
SENT: 7/10 RECEIVED: 8/30 (51 days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • See Also Nelson Spruce
  • After being released by the Rams, Nelson signed with the Bears in October of 2017.
  • Then after two small stints with the Chiefs and Chargers, Nelson signed with the San Diego Fleet of the AAF at the tail end of 2018.
  • In Week 7 against the Arizona Hotshots in 2019, he had 12 catches for 146 yards.
  • He finished 5th with 426 yards and second in catches with 38.
  • After the collapse of the AAF- he was a 3rd round pick of the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL in 2020.
  • Caught 20 passes for 256 yards and 2 scores in 3 starts.
  • Unfortunately the COVID pandemic derailed the XFL season after the midway point of the season.
  • Spent about 6 months on the off-season roster of the Montreal Alouettes in 2021.
  • As of 2024- is a VP of brand/ product development with FIBR.

NOTES:

OK. So I sat intentionally on Nelson’s post for a while. Almost right after I got his autographs back from 2019, I popped open a box of XFL 2020 and, “Pfbbbttt,” There’s Nelson’s XFL base card- so I had to get that signed too. Then it hit me… Nelson, despite his stat line and prominence in the AAF, doesn’t appear in the set. I needed to do all that before throwing up another post about him.

I really upped my quality on the custom cards across the board, down to the print quality and design. I was very happy with how the AAF card turned out, and I sent an extra for him to keep as well.

NFL

Spruce, Nelson

sage16_nspruce

Card: Sage 2016
Acquired: 2016, Box Breaker

The Colorado Buffallos have a had little to cheer about in football recently with the emergence of guys like Paul Richardson. Spruce benefited from the departure of the speedy receiver, and set school records with 106 catches and 12 touchdowns, along with 1,198 receiving yards. It was enough to earn Spruce Second Team All-Pac-12 honors in 2014.   A good route runner with soft hands, Spruce reminds me mostly of former Texans receiver Kevin Walter.  While his skills are undeniable, his lack of straight line speed is an issue for scouts clocking a 4.59 40, but he could quickly move in as a slot guy or a possession receiver who works special teams as a punt returner.  After a poor showing at the combine, Nelson was marked with a 3rd day rating, but eventually went undrafted. I thought he held potential for a team like the Texans or Patriots, but eventually Spruce signed a free agent contract with the Los Angeles Rams.

Spruce impressed the team well enough that he made the squad, but he was buried on the depth chart.  He’d be injured and spend a good portion of the season on IR, but was activated for the final game of the season versus the Cardinals.