Former Illinois State safety signs with Eagles

Former ISU standout Tom Nelson tackles Jets running back Shonn Greene. (Photo By Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA – Former Illinois State standout and Cincinnati Bengals safety Tom Nelson signed a free agent contract with the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday and was added to the team’s 53-man roster.

The Eagles and Nelson agreed to a two-year deal, and he will replace safety Colt Anderson, who was placed on the injured reserve list.

The Arlington Heights, Ill., and Hersey High School product played in 21 games at safety (three starts) for the Cincinnati Bengals from 2009-10, after he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois State in 2009. In his two seasons with the Bengals, Nelson recorded 34 tackles (27 solo) and had one interception.

During his rookie season in 2009, Nelson played in 12 games and started three at safety, while also helping out on special teams. He logged his first professional interception on Dec. 6, 2009, against Detroit while playing in place of injured free safety Chris Crocker. The 2010 season did not go as well for Nelson, who missed the first five games of the season due to a knee injury and missed the final two games of the season due to an illness.

Nelson earned All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors three times during his standout career at Illinois State and was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Freshman of the Year in 2005, when he led the Redbirds with 81 tackles, including 43 solo stops. His 15.59 yards per punt return average ranked first in the Valley that season, while he accumulated 24.71 yards per kickoff return, which also ranked third in the conference.

Nelson finished his career as ISU’s career leader in kick returns (84) and kick return yards (1,912), and also ranks eighth in career punt return yards (366).

With his signing, Nelson becomes the second former Redbird player to join an active NFL roster alongside former ISU teammate Laurent Robinson, who plays for the Dallas Cowboys. Former ISU offensive lineman Chris Riley is also in the NFL as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad.