BRIDGEWATER -- If you are wondering about the end result of crossing a spread offense with a pro-style offense, you share the same thought at least one of Jerry Kill's former quarterbacks once had.

Philip Nelson was Minnesota's Mr. Football award-winner as the top high school player in the state as a senior. His decision to stay home for college was rewarded when he became Kill's Big Ten starter as a true freshman and sophomore for the 2012-13 Golden Gophers.

So Nelson knows better than most what Rutgers offense will look like in 2017, with Kill calling the plays from his new post as offensive coordinator.

"I remember when I was getting recruited they described it to me as Wisconsin and TCU mixed on drugs," Nelson told NJ Advance Media. "That's kind of where it's a fun offense. One play you can be four-wide, spread 'em out -- inside zone (run) as a quarterback or going deep (pass). The next play you could be in three tight ends and a fullback and that whole offense."

Nelson transferred from Minnesota in a search for an offense that better fit his skills as a pass-first quarterback. He rushed for 364 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore, but it appeared Mitch Leidner -- who wound up as a three-year starter -- was a better fit for Kill.

"Coach Kill does a great job of playing to his players' strengths, but he definitely likes a tough quarterback who can tuck it down and run and give you that threat on the ground as well as being able to air it out," Nelson said.

"That was really what made me want to go to Minnesota. Being that athletic quarterback -- that pass-first-but-can-also-run guy -- I think that's what the quarterbacks at Rutgers can expect."

Nelson committed to Rutgers to play for then-offensive coordinator Ralph Friedgen. But Nelson, who is training for the NFL at New Jersey's TEST Football Academy, lasted only a semester -- Friedgen not much longer than that -- at Rutgers and finished his career at East Carolina.

Nelson said he left Minnesota on good terms with Kill, who came out of a short-lived retirement forced by his epilepsy condition to join the Rutgers staff.

"Coach Kill is going to be tough," Nelson said. "He's built on toughness: That's in his life and his coaching career. He's made a huge impact in my life as well when it comes to toughness. He's a guy that can come in and change things very fast. I think the thing he does the best is getting the best out of all his players. I'm really excited to see him back in the coaching realm."

Rutgers incumbent starting quarterback Giovanni Rescigno displayed plenty of toughness against big hits and was a dual threat when healthy during his five starts last season. Backups Tylin Oden and Zach Allen showed running ability but finished a combined 1-of-8 passing.

Incoming quarterback recruit Johnathan Lewis of St. Peter's Prep -- who is trained by Madei Williams, a former Kill quarterback at Southern Illinois -- also appears to fit the bill described.

Arguably the cause of most of Rutgers' offensive problems last season -- when it ranked last in the nation in total offense -- was a lack of common ground between play-calling and player skill sets.

Most of the roster was recruited to a pro-style offense and Kill's predecessor Drew Mehringer was married to the power spread because that was his background.

Kill, a 30-year veteran and former Big Ten Coach of the Year, already has begun personnel tinkering with the playbook, formations and recruiting.

"He finds the strengths of his players and he incorporates it all together," Nelson said. "If you have some receivers who can run and make some plays, you are going to have some of those packages. If you have some big fullbacks and good tight ends, he will make them a part of it as well. He does a great job in that."

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.