Ben Nelson Returns, Trandon Harvey Assigned to the SaberCats
July 24, 2014 - Arena Football League (AFL)
San Jose SaberCats News Release
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose SaberCats announced today that they have been assigned veteran wide receivers Ben Nelson and Trandon Harvey. Correspondingly, leading wide receiver Rod Harper and rookie wide receiver Doug Williams have been placed on injured reserve.
"We believe Ben and Trandon can add a lot to this football team," said Owner and Head Coach Darren Arbet. "They are both veterans with a proven track record in this league."
Nelson (6-3, 190, St. Cloud State) returns to the turf after over two years due to injury. The seven-year veteran last played on May 5th, 2012 for the SaberCats against the Arizona Rattlers, where he hauled in four passes for 74 yards and two touchdowns before exiting the game with an injury. For his career, Nelson has caught 606 passes for 7,773 yards and 170 touchdowns.
Entering the AFL in 2006 with San Jose, Nelson earned AFL Rookie of the Year and All-Rookie Team honors thanks to 94 catches for 1,398 yards with 26 touchdowns. He followed up his impressive rookie campaign with a stellar sophomore season in 2007, notching 100 receptions for 1,240 yards and 25 touchdowns during the regular season, while adding 19 receptions for 202 yards and eight scores in the playoffs en route to an ArenaBowl XXI victory. In 2008, Nelson took his talents to Colorado, appearing in 14 games for the Crush which registering 126 catches for 1,359 yards and 30 touchdowns. In 2010, Nelson spent a season with the Cleveland Gladiators, and was named First-Team All-Arena at wide receiver with 151 catches for 1,867 yards and 47 touchdowns. In 2011, he returned to the Green and Gold and led the team with 76 catches for 1,018 yards and 24 scores. In 2012 before his injury, Nelson tallied 59 catches for 891 yards and 18 touchdowns in just eight games for the SaberCats.
Harvey (5-11, 190, Washington State) is a six-year veteran of the Arena Football League, playing all six seasons for the SaberCats' arch nemesis, the Arizona Rattlers. For his career, he has racked up 437 catches for 5,601 yards and 119 touchdowns receiving, while adding 179 kick returns for 3,343 yards (18.7 average per return) with ten return scores.
Harvey broke into the AFL in 2007 with Arizona, earning Rookie Team honors with 101 catches for 1,412 yards and 30 touchdowns, and 14 kick returns for 192 yards and one score. In 2008, he recorded a career-high 110 receptions for 1,444 yards and 28 touchdowns, in addition to his 51 attempts for 933 yards and four scores in the return game. Harvey continued to impress with the Rattlers, notching 61 catches for 737 yards and 14 touchdowns and 43 kick returns for 770 yards and one score in 2010. In 2011, he hauled in 96 passes for 1,156 yards and 29 touchdowns in 12 games, while adding two return touchdowns. In 2012, Harvey notched 40 receptions for 510 yards and 31 touchdowns, and returns two kicks for scores. In 2013 for Arizona, he caught 30 passes for 342 yards with five touchdowns.
The SaberCats (12-5) close out the 2014 regular season against the Iowa Barnstormers (6-11) this Saturday, July 26 at 5:05 pm PT. The game can be found on Comcast Sports Net Bay Area, on the radio at KNBR 1050, or streaming on ESPN3.
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