‘Bumpy road’ ends nicely for Chaparral’s Nelson

Richard Nelson bought a new pair of shoes this week. Maroon, to match his future school's primary color.

But the kicks were not just a fashion statement by the Chaparral senior. They offered a fitting symbol for the difficult path Nelson has walked and where he now is headed.

"It's been a bumpy road, up and down, but at the end it all worked out," Nelson said. "The thing is, I believed that something will come through, and it did."

Nelson, who helped the Cowboys' football team to its best season in 25 years as a senior, signed a national letter of intent Wednesday with Missouri State, the culmination of four years of dedication and perseverance by the standout running back/outside linebacker.

Nelson was one of nearly 30 local football players expected to put pen to paper on national signing day, the first day recruits can make their commitments binding. The signing period for football runs through April 1.

"I always knew he had the potential to take it to the next level," Chaparral football coach Paul Nihipali said. "It was a challege for us to get here, but we were successful because of him and the support of his family. It's due to his determination and his ability to look at life from a positive perspective."

Nelson endured a difficult upbringing as his mother, Roxanne Bruce, battled a drug addiction, and Nelson and his three siblings were adopted in 2008 by their paternal grandmother, Deborah Coleman.

In early 2011, Nelson and his siblings moved with Coleman from Raymore, Missouri, a town about 25 minutes outside of Kansas City, Missouri, to Las Vegas.

Nelson said he became depressed following the move but was determined to earn an athletic scholarship. Nelson's stepgrandfather, Robert Brooks, drove him to and from school and practices, and Nelson made sure to remain academically eligible.

"He had that in his mind to go after that (scholarship)," Coleman said. "He would always come in and go right to it and he would say, 'I don't have time for this or that, I've got to do my homework.' He would just dig in, do his homework and get it done. He handled things. He kept everything balanced out, and I'm proud of him."

Bruce relocated to Las Vegas in 2013. The following year, with Coleman's small apartment becoming overcrowded, she permitted Nelson to move in with his mother, who is now sober.

Nelson was a second-team All-Sunrise League selection at running back as a junior for Chaparral and also ran a leg on the Cowboys' 400-meter relay team that won the Division I-A state title.

This past season, the 6-foot-1-inch, 205-pound Nelson rushed for a team-best 558 yards on 86 carries and added 15 receptions for 279 yards. He had 19 total touchdowns, including four interception returns for scores, and was a second-team Division I-A All-Southern Region selection at running back.

"He's conquered his demons, as far as everything that's been going on with him," Bruce said. "He prevailed. He did it. Nobody else deserves the credit but him."

Nelson was offered a scholarship by Weber State as a junior, but he waited to see if more offers came in and another player eventually filled that spot in Weber State's recruiting class. He drew interest from Cal, Northern Arizona, UNLV and UNR following his senior season, but couldn't afford to pay his own way to school as a preferred walk-on.

As luck would have it, Nelson's cousin Rickey Nichols, a wide receiver out of Blue Springs, Mo., took an official visit to Missouri State two weeks ago and recommended Nelson to the Bears' coaches.

Nelson was offered a scholarship by Missouri State on Monday, and he immediately gave the Bears an oral commitment.

"I couldn't even describe the feeling," Nelson said. "I didn't even say anything else after he offered me the scholarship. I was just, 'Thank you.' "

Nelson is listed as an athlete by Missouri State, a Football Championship Subdivision school located in Springfield, Mo., but is expected to start out at running back.

He's already earned a nickname from the Bears' coaches: "Vegas Flash."

"Our staff looks at hours of video on a lot of players, and we are always looking for players who can help our program," Missouri State coach Dave Steckel said. "We are really excited about what Nelson brings to Missouri State, and we can't wait to get him here and get started.”

In addition to Nichols, who also signed with the school, Nelson will have plenty of family nearby, bringing the Missouri native's journey full circle.

"It took heart and determination," Nelson said. "I had to go through what I went through to get to where I am now. And I'm glad I did."

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ