HUNTINGTON, W.Va.—The Thundering Herd will need to look out for No. 1 Saturday afternoon in Birmingham, that’s UAB’s No.1 to be precise. J.J. Nelson can be a difference maker for the Blazers who are hoping to get bowl eligible for the first time in ten years and knock off the undefeated and 18th ranked Thundering Herd.
“They take shots and number one (Nelson) has run by everybody,” said coach Doc Holliday. “Mississippi State has some great athletes in the secondary and he ran by them too. We’re going to have to do a great job of know where he is.”
Nelson had an 88-yard touchdown catch against the Bulldogs back on Sept. 6. That was one of three big scoring plays by the Blazers that day, UAB also hit on 81 and 75-yard pass plays to Josh Magee and Quincy Perdue. UAB finished the game with 548 yards of total offense and the 34 points the Blazers scored are the most points allowed by the Bulldogs this season.
“We got the ‘no fly zone’ behind us and I’ve got faith in that secondary and I know they’re going to get their job done,” insisted linebacker D.J. Hunter.
The big plays helped UAB take a 20-19 lead on Mississippi State in the second quarter, and UAB will try to do the same thing against the Herd.
“They do a good job running the football and they’re going to try to establish the run. But they’re going to take a lot of shots,” said Holliday.
UAB had success running the ball against the Herd last year in Huntington. Jordan Howard rushed 123 yards on 22 carries a year ago. Howard is fourth in Conference USA with 1,157 yards this year.
Even if Marshall is able to keep Nelson in check on offense and stuff the Blazers’ run game, UAB still has a chance to flip the game on special teams.
Nelson has three kickoff returns of 100 yards or more this season. Excellent special teams coverage is especially important this week.
“He’s concerning. Even if you get it five or six yards deep he may bring it out. You have to know where he is,” said Holliday.