Buffaloes WR Nelson Spruce starring in AAF

Despite setting 41 school records during his four years in Boulder, Colo. a number of injuries derailed Nelson Spruce’s short stint in the NFL. Now healthy, the Colorado Buffaloes most prolific wide receiver is making a name for himself playing for the San Diego Fleet (2-1), one of eight teams in the upstart Alliance of American Football (AAF).

Spruce had four catches for 50 yards and two touchdowns in the Fleet’s 31-11-win Sunday over the San Antonio Commanders. With 3:13 remaining in the first quarter, quarterback Philip Nelson found Spruce on a three-yard pass in the corner of the end zone to put the Fleet on the board. Spruce’s second score came late in the second quarter on an 18-yard pass from Nelson to put the Fleet up 22-8 heading into halftime.

Per Sunday’s NFL Network announcing team, Fleet head coach Mike Martz said Spruce is one of the better wide receivers he’s coached. That’s some high praise from someone that coached Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt with the Rams, and Calvin Johnson in his rookie season with the Detroit Lions.

Through three games, Spruce leads the Fleet with 119 receiving yards on nine receptions. Other than a preseason touchdown with the St. Louis Rams, his two scores Sunday are the first of his professional football career.

Next up for Spruce and the Fleet (and Ryan Moeller and Kenneth Olugbode) is a week four road contest against the Memphis Express (0-3). The game kicks off Saturday, March 2 at 2 p.m. MT and can been seen on Bleacher Report LIVE.