Charles Nelson is not yet a thing, though within a circle of Pac-12 observers he is appreciated. Some might even call Oregon's three-way player -- offense, defense, special teams -- a budding star, a Swiss Army knife with the potential to be so... useful.

Yet, just like those myriad available tools on a Swiss Army knife that rarely get used, Nelson heads into his junior season seemingly unrealized, perhaps underutilized based on the very fact he can do so much.

He has played well on offense as a receiver. His 17 receptions last year ranked fifth for the Ducks. He has played well as a safety. His 47 tackles ranked ninth for the Ducks. He's often been spectacular returning kickoffs, ranking 20th nationally with an average of 26.5 per return, including two for touchdowns, which was good enough to earn him first-team All-Pac-12 honors.

He is not, however, a household name, a sure-thing star headed into 2016. He has flashed potential, but his true breakout awaits.

That is why Oregon's decision -- as of now -- to have Nelson work exclusively with the receivers this spring is significant news, though Nelson doesn't profess certainty that his days on defense are over.

“I don’t know but as of now practice and meetings have been strictly offense as a receiver," he said. "I don’t know how it’s going to go going further into the spring, but they will tell me and let me know.”

While the Ducks are strong at receiver -- Darren Carrington, Dwayne Stanford, Devon Allen, etc. -- Nelson makes an athletic crew truly dangerous, particularly when you consider the Ducks are also deep and talented at tight end and also can pound the life out of you with 230-pound running back Royce Freeman.

That's a lot of matchup issues for an opposing defensive coordinator, at least if Oregon figures things out behind center.

Some might wonder why Nelson is moving away from a secondary that struggled last year, but the general feeling is that the young DBs of 2015 will grow up this fall and a position of weakness will become a strength. At least, that's the theory, one that will be tested by Nelson if he again finds himself in position meetings with the safeties.

While Nelson doesn't go too far stating his own personal preferences, it's pretty clear he likes receiver best.

“I wouldn’t say I have a position I prefer, but if I had to play one position, I want to play offense, just because it seems more natural to me," he said. "I’m more comfortable there.”

Playing both ways -- as well as playing special teams -- can seem glamorous. It can seem like the ultimate athletic validation for a football player -- as in, "This guy is too good to ever be off the field." But it also tends to sound better in breathless media features than it looks on after-the-fact game film. Exhibit A could be USC's celebrated three-way player Adoree Jackson, who was pretty underwhelming in 2015, despite getting handed first-team All-Pac-12 honors as a cornerback.

Playing multiple positions is physically and mentally taxing. You're not only learning two schemes, you're changing mentalities. What a safety does is pretty much the exact opposite of what a receiver does.

“Defense is all about being tough, being physical, stopping them. Being a dog out there on the field," Nelson said. "Offense is like, ‘We’re going to go out there and do our thing. Have swag and go out there and ball.’”

In terms of the bigger picture, Nelson, a native of Dayton Beach, Fla., is on the NFL radar but his playing multiple positions might create uncertainty among scouts. At 5-foot-8, 180 pounds, he doesn't have prototypical size for either position. He'd likely project as a slot receiver, but his versatility -- a seeming selling point -- might make clarity-seeking scouts cautious.

Nelson didn't seem too worried about confusing NFL personnel men.

“I feel that’s up to them to decide," he said. "They can sit there and watch the film and see that I can go both ways. They can pick and choose, really.”

As of now, Nelson is a receiver, one of the guys catching passes from new FCS transfer Dakota Prukop, the frontrunner to take over behind center for the Ducks this fall. Of course, Nelson isn't ready to commit to a winner in the putative QB competition.

“[Prukop has] just got to get used to the offense and the way we run things and he’ll be set," Nelson said. “Right now, it’s still up in the air. It’s a great battle.”

Whoever prevails, he surely will benefit from Nelson becoming a thing -- as in All-Pac-12 -- at receiver.