NAME:
Paul Nelson
SCHOOL:
Princeton High School
SPORT(S):
Football
GRADUATING
YEAR: 2025
GREATEST
ACHIEVEMENT:
2023 Ohio Defensive
Player of the Year
BIRTHDATE:
2/4/2007
HEIGHT/WEIGHT:
6'2"-210 lbs.
RESIDENCE:
Glendale
PARENT:
Vivian Thomas
BIGGEST
INFLUENCE:
“LeBron
James”
FUTURE
GOAL: Play
in the NFL
One of the best
linebackers in the state
of Ohio is Princeton
High School senior Paul
(“P.J.”) Nelson.
He entered this season
coming off a great
junior campaign when he
accumulated 89 tackles
(53 solo tackles), a
league-leading 12 sacks,
five forced fumbled, two
fumble recoveries (one
for a TD) and a pick-six
interception. This
season, after ten games,
he leads the GMC in
tackles with 115 (73 of
which are solo tackles)
to go along with a
forced fumble, two
fumble recoveries and an
interception. The
Vikings have won
back-to-back GMC titles.
He was a major
contributor to a 12-1
Viking team that
finished an undefeated
10-0 in last year's
regular season and won
the outright
championship of the
tough Greater Miami
Conference for the first
time since 1993. He
anchored a Princeton
defense that allowed a
mere 11 points per game.
Princeton advanced to
the regional semifinals
where they lost to
Lakota West.
For his work on the
field, P.J. received
numerous honors,
including being named
GMC Player of the Year,
Cincinnati Div. I
Defensive Player of the
Year (Enquirer),
Southwest Ohio District
Defensive Co-Player of
the Year, TriState
Football's Defensive
Player of the Year, and
Ohio Div. I Defensive
Player of the Year. He
was also named
Cincinnati Defensive
Player of the Year by
the Cincinnati Enquirer
High School Sports
All-Star Awards.
P.J. will play football
at the next level,
having committed to the
University of Indiana.
In his spare time, he
enjoys playing Fortnite.
His favorite athlete is
Aaron Donald, favorite
entertainer is Kai
Cenat, favorite book is
Harry Potter, favorite
movie is Toy Story 2 and
most-like-to-meet is
LeBron James.
COACH'S QUOTE
–
“P.J. is a
hardworker and plays
with a super high motor.
He is a linebacker that
can cover sideline to
sideline and arrives
with a purpose. P.J.
makes his presence felt
in every game.”
—Andre Parker,
Varsity Football
Coach
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