Nelson Spruce

2015 Media Guide Bio: 

AT COLORADO: Career— He enters his senior year second in receptions (205), sixth in receiving yards (2,294) and tied for fifth in touchdown catches (19) all-time at Colorado. He is second only to J.D. McKissic of Arkansas State when it comes to players returning with the most career receptions (McKissic has 237). He also has caught at least one pass in 25 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in CU history (he has two or more in 24 of those games), and has the fifth-most 100-yard games (7). He scored the 25,000th point in school history when he scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Sefo Liufau at California on Sept. 27, 2014. He holds or shares 35 school records heading into his senior year.

This Season (Sr.)—One of the nation’s top receivers and a candidate for both the Biletnikoff and Maxwell awards, he has a chance of etching his name to almost all of CU’s major receiving records. One of three receivers on the Touchdown Club of Columbus’ players to watch list, which honored over two dozen selections in Columbus on February 7. A unanimous preseason first-team All-Pac-12 selection by Athlon Sports, ESPN, Phil Steele’s College Football and The Sporting News (Phil Steele’s also selected him as preseason fourth-team All-American). The coaches selected him as the recipient of the Jon Wooten Award, presented to the player with the most outstanding ethic in the spring.

2014 (Jr.)—In setting or tying 31 school receiving records, he was one of 10 semifinalists for the Fred Biletnikoff Award and was named the winner of CU’s Zack Jordan Award, presented to the team’s most valuable player. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors from the league coaches, Athlon Sports and Phil Steele’s College Football; he garnered some All-America mention as well: third-team from collegesportsmadness.com, fourth-team from Phil Steele’s and honorable mention from Sports Illustrated (Steele had him a second-team mid-season All-American). He earned first-team AllColorado honors from the state’s chapter of the National Football Foundation, and was a finalist for CU’s Male Athlete of the Year (for all sports). In starting all 12 games, he caught 106 passes for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns (the former and latter school records), as he became the first player in school history to have 100 receptions in a season, and the eighth in Pac-12 history to do so. Among his single-game marks were his 19 receptions at Cal (for 179 yards), including a record 10 in a half (the first), along with tying the mark for the most TDs in a game (three, also at Cal). He set the marks for the most catches in two (32), three (39), four (49) and five (56) consecutive games, and caught six or more passes in 11 straight, another CU mark (as was making at least one touchdown reception in seven straight games). He also had a record 56 catches earn first downs, with 13 receptions gaining 20 or more yards (six for TDs) and 43 going for 10-plus. He was first in the Pac-12 in receptions per game (8.8, third in the NCAA), third in receiving yards (13th in the country), while leading the conference in TD grabs (seventh nationally). He averaged 30.8 yards for his 12 touchdown receptions. He also was sixth in the conference, averaging 7.5 yards for 12 punt returns. He caught 10 or more passes in four games – in addition to the 19 at Cal, he had 13 against Hawaii (for 172 yards, 1 TD) and 13 versus Washington (138 yards, 0 TD); those are the top three single-game reception marks in CU history. He was elected by his teammates to serve as one of six team captains for the 2014 season, and the media that cover the team on a regular basis selected him as the “Best Interview.” He won the John Wooten Award as selected by the coaching staff for having the most outstanding work ethic during spring practices; he caught nine passes for 123 yards and a score in the four main scrimmages.

2013 (Soph.)—He started all 12 games at receiver, finishing second on the team in receptions (55), receiving yards (650) and receiving touchdowns (4), while averaging 11.8 yards per catch. He caught 23 balls for 10 or more yards (seven for 20-plus), and caught four or more passes in eight games. He earned 29 first downs, 28 receiving and one passing, the latter coming on a 32-yard pass he threw to quarterback Sefo Liufau against Utah. He caught 15 passes on third/fourth downs (for 151 yards), picking up 10 of those first downs on clutch plays. He earned CU’s Athlete-of-the Week honor for his game against Cal, when he caught eight passes for 140 yards (both single game season bests) including his career long of 62, and when he returned an onside kick 46 yards for a touchdown – the first such instance in CU history. He also led the team in punt returns with nine for 45 yards, or a 5.0 average; he was the only player to field a punt for the Buffs all season, and had two kickoff returns for a 31.5 average with the one TD. He was third on the team in all-purpose yards with 758, averaging 11.5 yards per his 66 touches, and was fourth in scoring with 30 points. The coaches named him the co-recipient of the Tom McMahon Award, presented to the player(s) with great dedication and work ethic. He won the Iron Buffalo Award for the wide receivers for spring conditioning in the weight room.

2012 (Fr.-RS)—He played in all 12 games, starting nine, including the last eight of the season and became just the third freshman to lead the Buffaloes in single-season receptions, doing so with 44. He also led the team in receiving yards with 446, averaging 10.1 per catch with three touchdowns. He had 22 catches of 10 yards or longer (three 20-plus), with 29 of his receptions earning first downs, including 11 on 15 third/fourth down grabs. He also caught 15 passes on first downs and 14 on second downs. His top games all included one touchdown receptions: at Washington State (8-103), versus Utah (season/career high 10 catches for 98) and Colorado State (8-64).

2011 (Fr.)—Redshirted; practiced at wide receiver the entire fall.

HIGH SCHOOL—As a senior, he earned PrepStar All-America honors, with the publication ranking him the No. 60 player overall in the nation on its Top 150 Dream Team. SuperPrep placed him on its All-Far West team and ranked him the No. 64 player in the region, the ninth wide receiver. Scout.com ranked him the No. 95 wide receiver in the nation, the 10th best from California (as well as the No. 10 wide receiver in the West on another listing). He earned first-team All-CIF Northern Division and first-team AllArea (Los Angeles Daily News) honors at wide receiver both his junior and senior seasons and was named All-State by Cal-Hi Sports at wide receiver as a junior and a second-team all-purpose performer as a senior. The Los Angeles Times selected him a first-team All-Star at receiver (junior) and defensive (senior). He was named to the Ventura County All-Decade team at receiver; he was also first-team All-Ventura County as a junior and senior, the latter year being named the Defensive Back of the Year in the county. He was the Marmonte League Wide Receiver of the Year both his junior and senior seasons and was a second-team selection at defensive back as a sophomore. He was the co-MVP for Westlake both his junior and senior years after he was named the Most Improved Player his sophomore season. For his career, he had 149 receptions for 2,795 yards and 37 touchdowns, 12 games with 100 or more yards, caught at least three passes in 26 of 28 games his final two years (with at least seven receptions seven times) and scored multiple touchdowns 11 times. He was just the third receiver at Westlake to have back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. He also returned 23 punts for 462 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, he had 141 tackles (88 solo), eight interceptions, eight pass break-ups and one forced fumble. As a senior, he caught 73 passes for 1,292 yards and 18 touchdowns and returned 15 punts for 236 yards (15.7 per return) and a score, impressive numbers considering he played in the second half in just four of 14 games. On defense in spot duty, he had 31 tackles (19 solo) with three pass break-ups and two interceptions. As a junior, he had 65 receptions for 1,325 yards and 18 touchdowns on offense. He returned eight punts for 226 yards (28.3 average) with one touchdown; three returns covered over 50 yards. On defense, he had 54 tackles (32 solo) and two interceptions. His sophomore season, he played primarily on defense and had 56 tackles (37 solo), four interceptions, five pass breakups and a forced fumble. On offense, he had 11 receptions for 178 yards and a touchdown with one rush for 15 yards. Top games his senior year: in a 31-12 win against Oaks Christian he caught seven passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns; in a 32-31 loss to St. Bonaventure, he matched his career high with nine catches for 133 yards (2 TDs) with an interception and seven tackles (but in a playoff rematch won by Westlake, he had seven receptions for 132 yards and a score); in a 49-28 win over Palos Verdes in the playoffs, he caught five balls for 131 yard and three TDs. In his first career start at receiver in his junior season opener, he caught five passes for a career-high 233 yards (46.6 average) with four touchdowns, including a 94-yarder, in a 48-26 win over Paso Robles. Other top games as a junior: he had nine catches for 196 yards (21.8 per, 2 TDs) and seven tackles in a 31-27 win over Newbury Park; in a 49-27 win over Ventura, he had five receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns, one covering 71 yards; in a 17-7 playoff win over St. Bonaventure, he had a career-high eight tackles and two interceptions on defense while catching three passes for 40 yards; and in a 14-10 win over Moorpark in CIF championship game, he had seven receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown and five tackles. Under coach Jim Benkert, Westlake compiled a 33-7 record his time there, including a perfect 14-0 mark his junior season and 12-2 mark as a senior with a 22game win streak over the course of those two seasons. He also lettered in baseball, earning All-Marmonte League honors as a third baseman his sophomore season when he batted .400; he played shortstop as a junior (did not play as a senior).

ACADEMICS—He is majoring in Business (Finance and Management) at Colorado. He earned first-team Pac-12 All-Academic Team honors as a junior (with a 3.64 grade point average) and second-team recognition as a sophomore and as a redshirt freshman. He earned first-team Academic All-Colorado honors from the state’s chapter of the National Football Foundation as a junior (the group’s inaugural team). He was named to the All-Ventura League Academic Team as a senior for maintaining a 3.8 or above grade point average.

PERSONAL—He was born December 5, 1992 in Venice Beach, Calif. His hobbies include playing golf (he’s a scratch player), Xbox, lifting weights and working out. He did some community service work in high school with his baseball team, working with the local Little League.