Former No. 1 Overall QB Recruit Malachi Nelson Is Transferring
12/12/2024 11:46 AM
Two years ago Boise State quarterback Malachi Nelson was one of the top college football prospects and seen by some as the future of USC football. But as he prepares for just his third college football season, he'll be doing so on his third team.
According to Nelson's manager Justin Giangrande via ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, Nelson intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal. He was relegated to the backup quarterback role in 2024 behind Maddux Madsen, throwing just 17 passes for 128 yards and an interception. Nelson was ESPN's No. 1 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class while 247Sports rated him as a five-star player and the No. 13 overall prospect.
"Boise State quarterback Malachi Nelson intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per his manager @JgNetworkCEO . He's a former USC QB who was ESPN's No. 1 overall player in the class of 2023," Thamel wrote.
Boise State quarterback Malachi Nelson intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per his manager @JgNetworkCEO. He's a former USC QB who was ESPN's No. 1 overall player in the class of 2023. pic.twitter.com/1DeQS0jjlE
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 12, 2024
Nelson has found the Boise State starting lineup a tough nut to crack. While the quarterback may not be the center of the Broncos offense this year (running back Ashton Jeanty has almost as many rushing yards as the team has passing yards), starter Maddox Madsen has thrown for 2,714 yards and a conference-leading 22 touchdowns this season.
If Nelson thought that transferring to Boise State was going to maximize his chances of getting a starting job at a program with a sizeable national audience, he was ultimately mistaken.
The timing of Nelson's move could wind up being his undoing though. Boise State are getting ready to compete in the College Football Playoff for the first time ever and will square off against the winner of the Penn State-SMU game in the Fiesta Bowl later this month.
Should anything happen to Madsen during that game, Nelson would have a golden opportunity to show off his skills in the biggest game the Broncos have ever had.
But on the other hand, the longer he waits to enter the portal, the harder it would likely be for him to find the ideal situation where he can be a starter in 2025.
Do you think Nelson is making the right decision by transferring?
Related: Lincoln Riley Opens Up About Malachi Nelson's Transfer From USC
