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  6. article_body => "<p>INDIANAPOLIS \u2014 Quenton Nelson could break a common thought in NFL circles that guards aren\u2019t worth high draft picks, given it\u2019s generally easier to find a solid guard than it is a solid tackle. But the 6-foot-5, 329 pound bruiser isn\u2019t just a solid player; he has all the makings of an elite player, the kind of guy who solidifies a position for a decade.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nelson offered a pretty good sales pitch for himself last week, pointing to the importance of interior linemen in a league in which guys like the Rams\u2019 Aaron Donald and the Eagles\u2019 Fletcher Cox are such disruptive forces. The Bears probably don\u2019t need the pitch, given offensive line coach Harry Hiestand&nbsp;knows the ins and outs of Nelson\u2019s game after coaching him at Notre Dame for the last four years.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But if anyone needs any convincing on Nelson\u2019s talent, take it from some of the guys who had to face him in college: He really is *that* good.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Stanford defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said Nelson was the best player he faced in his college career. Phillips is training for the draft with Nelson in San Diego, and offered this analysis at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s very sound with his technique,\u201d Philips said. \u201cHe has great technique. And his passion for the game is a reason why he\u2019s successful. It\u2019s all those steps he takes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Georgia\u2019s NFL-bound interior duo&nbsp;\u2014 Trenton Thompson and John Atkins \u2014 were similarly complimentary of Nelson, even though the Bulldogs largely were able to shut down Notre Dame\u2019s offense when the two teams met last September.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s a great offensive lineman,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cHe\u2019s got good willpower.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Atkins saw some clips of Nelson\u2019s punishing blocks here and there \u2014 like him piledriving this LSU player into the turf \u2014 and was happy to say he didn\u2019t wind up on Nelson\u2019s highlight reel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI saw a lot of it,\u201d Atkins said. \u201cI was like, man, he\u2019s a really good player.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>N.C. State nose guard B.J. Hill faced Nelson twice in his college career \u2014 once in the soggy midst of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and another in more favorable conditions in 2017 \u2014 and said matching up with a player of Nelson\u2019s caliber helped build his own confidence as he takes the next step in his career.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can play with anybody, because he\u2019s one of the best guards in the nation,\u201d Hill said. \u201cI feel like I can play with anybody if I can play with him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And Miami\u2019s R.J. McIntosh, who got the best of Nelson a few times but also got driven into the turf during the Hurricanes\u2019 win over the Irish in November, specifically pointed to Nelson\u2019s strength as the toughest part of facing him.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s a great player,\u201d McIntosh said. \u201cHe always tried \u2014 he was physical. He never let you just do anything to him. That kind of stood out to me from anybody else or any O-line. The whole O-line was good, but him as a player, he\u2019s a great player.\u201d<\/p>\n"
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Bears

Bears

INDIANAPOLIS — Quenton Nelson could break a common thought in NFL circles that guards aren’t worth high draft picks, given it’s generally easier to find a solid guard than it is a solid tackle. But the 6-foot-5, 329 pound bruiser isn’t just a solid player; he has all the makings of an elite player, the kind of guy who solidifies a position for a decade. 

Nelson offered a pretty good sales pitch for himself last week, pointing to the importance of interior linemen in a league in which guys like the Rams’ Aaron Donald and the Eagles’ Fletcher Cox are such disruptive forces. The Bears probably don’t need the pitch, given offensive line coach Harry Hiestand knows the ins and outs of Nelson’s game after coaching him at Notre Dame for the last four years. 

But if anyone needs any convincing on Nelson’s talent, take it from some of the guys who had to face him in college: He really is *that* good. 

Stanford defensive tackle Harrison Phillips said Nelson was the best player he faced in his college career. Phillips is training for the draft with Nelson in San Diego, and offered this analysis at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Saturday:

“He’s very sound with his technique,” Philips said. “He has great technique. And his passion for the game is a reason why he’s successful. It’s all those steps he takes.”

Georgia’s NFL-bound interior duo — Trenton Thompson and John Atkins — were similarly complimentary of Nelson, even though the Bulldogs largely were able to shut down Notre Dame’s offense when the two teams met last September. 

 

“He’s a great offensive lineman,” Thompson said. “He’s got good willpower.”

Atkins saw some clips of Nelson’s punishing blocks here and there — like him piledriving this LSU player into the turf — and was happy to say he didn’t wind up on Nelson’s highlight reel. 

“I saw a lot of it,” Atkins said. “I was like, man, he’s a really good player.”

N.C. State nose guard B.J. Hill faced Nelson twice in his college career — once in the soggy midst of Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and another in more favorable conditions in 2017 — and said matching up with a player of Nelson’s caliber helped build his own confidence as he takes the next step in his career.

“I can play with anybody, because he’s one of the best guards in the nation,” Hill said. “I feel like I can play with anybody if I can play with him.”

And Miami’s R.J. McIntosh, who got the best of Nelson a few times but also got driven into the turf during the Hurricanes’ win over the Irish in November, specifically pointed to Nelson’s strength as the toughest part of facing him. 

“He’s a great player,” McIntosh said. “He always tried — he was physical. He never let you just do anything to him. That kind of stood out to me from anybody else or any O-line. The whole O-line was good, but him as a player, he’s a great player.”