April 8th, 2010
Cerritos, CA-Graceland
University and Coach Cris
Welch are proud to announce the signing of heralded quarterback Casey
Nielsen.
The 5'11", 180 pound prospect from Cerritos, California comes to
Graceland from Gahr High School, where the prolific passer compiled an
impressive 4,406 yards and 69.6% completion rate in a year of starting
for the Gladiators, throwing for 41 touchdowns to only 12 interceptions.
Casey led the state of California in passing in 2009, and his yardage
totals saw him graduate with the #3 single season effort in California
state history, and owns the Yards Per Game record in passing with 400.5,
after throwing for at least 356 yards in 11 consecutive games. Nielsen
was selected as one of fifty Old Spice Redzone National Players of the
Year in addition to earning honors in his home state as 1st Team
All-Conference, 1st Team "Dream Team" from the Long Beach
Press
Telegram, 2nd Team All State from Maxpreps.com and 3rd Team All
State from Calhi Sports, 2nd Team All-Southern California by Scout.com
and was Cerritos Community News Player of the Year. Casey was a
two-year letter winner and four year honor roll student.
"Casey may be one of the most heralded recruits that we've signed
here in 7 years," said Coach Cris Welch. "He comes from a great blood
line of world class athletes. His father was a world champion Tae Quon
Do practitioner, his uncle [former Oakland Raiders QB Jon Nielsen] is a
former NFL/CFL quarterback and his brother is a scholarshipped player
at Hawaii," said Coach Welch. "An outstanding student in the top of his
academic class he is a great fit for Graceland and will definitely be
poised to come in and make an immediate impact. We are fortunate that
Casey connected with the staff and players on his weekend visit,"
concluded Coach Welch.
"Graceland is a place where I can be me, everything fits," said
Casey. "The offense is close to what I ran in high school, and I liked
all of the players I met with. Coach Welch is a great guy, he's one of
the only coaches I know who really gets to know his players, he really
cares about his guys and wants the best for them," he added. "I chose
GU because, I like I said before, it fits me. The academics are great,
I have a shot to play college ball, what else could I ask for?"
Graceland football is excited to see Casey on campus for the 2010
season, and welcome him to the Yellowjacket family! Stay tuned to the
GU athletics website for continuing coverage of the football recruiting
season and for all of Graceland athletics.
For More Information on Graceland
University Athletics Contact:
Matt Shelton, Sports Information
Director
(641) 784-5318
mshelton@graceland.edu
