The moment Derek Robertson went down, we all knew it was bad. The Monmouth football team’s starting quarterback, the leader who prepared better than anyone on the roster, wasn’t getting up.
When the news came that Robertson would miss the rest of the season, starting running back Rodney Nelson felt two things simultaneously: devastation for his teammate and friend losing his final year, and the weight of realization settling on his own shoulders as well as the fact that his work load was about to explode.
“When he went down, I knew it was something bad, but I didn’t know he’d be put for the whole season,” said Nelson recalling the moment Robertson sustained his injury. “I was upset for him because no athlete wants to go out like that in their final year, and I also realized my workload was about to increase and it was a wake up call to do better.”
For the junior running back and social work major, this season has been a case study in adaptation.
What started out as a breakout year alongside Robertson has transformed into something else entirely – a chance to prove himself as the focal point of an offense that’s rewriting Monmouth’s recent history.
The Hawks are now 8-2, their best start since 2017, and Nelson credits the team’s chemistry above all else.
Since arriving in the spring of 2023, he’s watched the culture shift. “The team’s chemistry is fully involved in success this season. Everyone holds each other accountable, we see each other as brothers,” said Nelson.
That mindset defined the season opener, when Monmouth fell behind 31-7. Nelson and his brother, wide receiver Gavin Nelson, combined for every touchdown after halftime, with commentators shouting out their mother as the deficit evaporated.
Nelson recalls this particular moment with high regard, stating that “No one on the team thought we were going to lose, we knew we had to come out and win. Then all the touchdowns after halftime were the Nelson brothers.”
Nelson has always been a hard worker, and he continues to maintain that work ethic throughout this season.
He scouts defensive tendencies with clinical precision: how players tackle, their lateral movement, their speed, whether they can fill gaps. He identifies key players and studies their tells.
In addition to prepping for other teams, Nelson stated that he’s also gotten comfortable letting opposing teams prepare for him.
That confidence comes from the expanded role he’s carved out, particularly after Robertson’s injury shifted the entire offensive calculus.
“On the field, Derek is someone you can follow, knows how to lead and push his guys and we have so much confidence in him because he prepares better than anyone on the team,” said Nelson, reflecting on his relationship with quarterback Derek Robertson. “Off the field, he carries himself the same way, but you can see more of his personality. He’s kind of goofy, which you can see if you’re close with him, genuine, easy to talk to and connect with.”
Losing that presence mid-season forced adjustments. The backup quarterback, redshirt-freshman Frankie Weaver, is talented but hadn’t played his first college game when thrust into the starting role.
When Robertson ran the offense, his mastery created versatility. Without him, defenses key on Nelson and the other running threats exclusively.
Nelson’s four-touchdown performance against the Hampton Pirates showcased his ability to carry the offense, but the increased workload comes with its own set of pressures.
“I have to know a lot more to make his [Weaver] job easier … I have to be damn near perfect.”
Nelson’s aforementioned work ethic can be traced back to his little league coach, Coach Bacon, who served as a father figure throughout Nelson’s life.
“He always kept me focused when I was young, always made sure I was working out and that my grades were good, even when he didn’t have to,” recalls Nelson. “He was at the Hampton game and still checks up on me.”
With the postseason approaching, Nelson has specific targets: 2,000 rushing yards, 20 touchdowns (he currently has 15), a CAA championship, and national title run. But beyond personal milestones, he wants this season to be remembered as legendary.
“Monmouth hasn’t been 7-1 since 2017 and in the previous season, we beat an FBS team with the same players from this year,” says Nelson regarding successes he feels are helping to propel them to the finish line.
Every additional carry takes a toll. Nelson undergoes regular treatment to keep his body ready. But mentally? No nerves, no stress. He frames the increased workload as an opportunity.
“I want to prove myself to myself, no one else.”
