Malachi Nelson, the former USC quarterback and top recruit in the Class of 2023, has announced his transfer to Boise State. This move was confirmed by Nelson himself on Twitter, where he expressed his commitment to the Boise State Broncos with the hashtag #BleedBlue. Nelson’s decision to transfer comes after playing in just one game for the Trojans last season.
The news of Nelson’s expected transfer was first reported by The Athletic on December 17. Nelson had initially committed to Oklahoma out of high school but decommitted once coach Lincoln Riley took the USC job. He followed Riley to Southern California but ultimately decided to explore other options.
As a highly sought-after recruit, Nelson had offers from 25 schools, including Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and Michigan. However, he chose USC as his destination. Now, he will be joining Boise State, where there is an open path to playing time. The Broncos’ starting quarterback, Tayler Green, transferred after the regular season ended, leaving opportunities for Nelson to compete for the starting role.
While Maddux Madsen and CJ Tiller are still with the program, neither has the same recruiting pedigree as Nelson. However, Nelson will still need to prove himself and earn the starting job. If he succeeds, he will have the support of running back Ashton Jeanty, who had an impressive season in 2023.
Nelson’s time at USC did not go as expected. Despite enrolling a year ago, he was limited by a non-throwing arm surgery. He participated in spring practice but struggled during the spring game, committing three turnovers. Throughout the regular season, he only threw three passes and served as the third-string quarterback behind Caleb Williams and Miller Moss.
According to USC beat writer Antonio Morales, Nelson’s development may have been hindered by his surgery. Additionally, it seemed that Nelson was not pleased with USC’s pursuit of a transfer quarterback, which may have influenced his decision to enter the transfer portal.
Overall, Nelson’s transfer to Boise State presents him with a fresh start and the opportunity to compete for a starting role. If he performs well, there is always the possibility of transferring to a school in a power conference in the future.