MIAMI - Wisconsin cornerback Nick Nelson will declare for the 2018 NFL Draft and forgo his senior season, with the junior announcing his decision on Saturday night after Wisconsin's 34-24 win over Miami in the Orange Bowl.

A 5-foot-11, 208-pound prospect from Glenarden, Md., Nelson started 13 games for the Badgers in 2017 after sitting out the 2016 season following his transfer to UW from Hawaii, where he started 21 games for the Rainbow Warriors from 2014-2015. Nelson flashed on the scout team throughout 2016, and claimed the vacant starting job at cornerback opposite Derrick Tindal in the spring.

Nelson was second in the Big Ten in passes defended during his lone season on the field for the Badgers, who have lost a couple of players to the NFL a year early over the last few years - notably left tackle Ryan Ramczyk and outside linebacker T.J. Watt last year, both of whom ended up being first-round picks.

Nelson, a consensus first-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media in 2017, also returned punts for the Badgers. He scored one touchdown on a punt return, and averaged 8.4 yards per return.

With Nelson's early departure, the Badgers will have to replace three of their four starters, and four key players overall, from their 2017 defensive backfield - now that Tindal, safety Natrell Jamerson, and backup safety Joe Ferguson have exhausted their eligibility.

Replacing Tindal and Nelson in 2018 will likely fall to a mix of sophomore Dontye Carriere-Williams, freshman Madison Cone, and freshman Caesar Williams among others.

___________________________________________________

John Veldhuis covers Wisconsin football, basketball and recruiting for BadgerBlitz.com on the Rivals.com network. Follow him on Twitter at @JohnVeldhuis.