More than a dozen players quit the Illinois football team after the 2017 season.
Some left on their own, looking for better opportunities. Others were gently nudged out the door.
None of the departees has more of an upside than Pat Nelson.
The defensive back finished tied for third on the team with 65 tackles. The Chicagoan has a nose for the ball.
Because he already has his degree in sports management, Nelson was a free agent. A very appealing one.
He started two years in the Big Ten and has two more years of eligibility.