In a stunning development that sent shockwaves through the college football world, former five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson has committed to the UTEP Miners. The one-time USC signee and Boise State transfer was the consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2023 and instantly becomes the highest-rated prospect to ever join the UTEP program.
Nelson, who still has three years of eligibility remaining, turned down offers from many high-profile, big-money programs to bet on himself with the Miners. Sources say his decision ultimately came down to his strong belief in UTEP head coach Scotty Walden’s vision for the future of the program.
A Winding Path to El Paso
It’s been a tumultuous college career so far for Nelson since he first committed to Oklahoma as a high school phenom. The Southern California native later flipped to USC when Lincoln Riley took over the Trojans program in 2021.
But Nelson found himself buried on the depth chart behind Heisman winner Caleb Williams and backup Miller Moss as a freshman. He saw minimal playing time in 2023 before opting to transfer to Boise State.
With the Broncos, Nelson was unable to beat out redshirt sophomore Maddux Madsen for the starting job. Madsen went on to lead Boise State to a 12-2 record and College Football Playoff berth, while Nelson was limited to mop-up duty.
Betting on a Fresh Start
Desperate for an opportunity to prove himself, Nelson recently entered the transfer portal for the second time. That’s when UTEP emerged as a dark horse candidate.
I believe in Coach Walden and what he’s building here. This is a place I can grow as a player and a leader. I’m ready to get to work and shock the world.
– Malachi Nelson on his decision to transfer to UTEP
By passing up overtures from more prominent programs to join the Miners, Nelson is placing a huge bet on himself to resurrect his once-promising career. If he wins the starting job and puts up big numbers in Walden’s QB-friendly system, his NFL draft stock could skyrocket.
A High School Legend
It wasn’t long ago that Nelson was the hottest QB prospect in the nation coming out of Los Alamitos High School. As a senior in 2022, he put up video game numbers:
- 2,898 passing yards
- 35 touchdown passes
- Back-to-back Gatorade State Player of the Year honors
Every major program wanted Nelson’s signature, including Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame. He was billed as a can’t-miss prospect with the talent to be a future No. 1 draft pick.
While his college career hasn’t gone according to script so far, Nelson now has a golden opportunity to flip that narrative and live up to his immense potential at UTEP. If he delivers, the Miners could be the talk of college football in 2025.
I'm betting on myself. El Paso, let's ride! 😤🏈 #PicksUp pic.twitter.com/8XT4Lz8vef
— Malachi Nelson (@MalachiNelson9) January 6, 2025
