Malachi Nelson knew that, in all likelihood he would not see much of the field in his redshirt freshman year at USC.
Despite being the best recruit in the entire country, per the ESPN300 recruiting database, Nelson knew his time would likely come at the helm of the premier west coast college football power after the all-but-imminent departure of projected 1st overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams.
Whilst, strictly speaking, Williams has yet to declare for the NFL Draft, it is considered a mere formality by most pundits at this point. So, the question begs, why is Malachi Nelson not staying on at USC?
Why Did Malachi Nelson Decide To Leave USC And Enter The Transfer Portal?
It was certainly somewhat of a surprise for many when Nelson decided to change direction after just one year at USC, especially considering he had a real opportunity to be the team’s starting quarterback come the fall.
However, despite Malachi Nelson’s 5 star status, Miller Moss was the backup for Caleb Williams this past season, with Nelson being the number 3 QB. And it seems like, considering this decision, and the fact that Miller Moss was chosen as the starter for the Holiday Bowl, where USC thumped Louisville, Nelson had only an outside chance at becoming Lincoln Riley’s starting quarterback next season.
Where Is Malachi Nelson Heading To In 2024?
The shocker, then, is – respectfully- where Nelson chose to transfer to. Coming into the portal as the top recruit only last year, you would expect him to secure a starting berth at one of the nation’s top rung, if not elite rung, schools.
Yet, Nelson’s new school is not even in a Power 5 Conference – per Field Yates.
Malachi Nelson – the number 1 high school player in the ESPN300 class of 2023 rankings – is headed to Boise State after one season at USC.
Huge get. https://t.co/sWOHAKtno6
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 7, 2024
It seems like there is not a whole load of rhyme or reason as to why Boise in particular appealed to Malachi Nelson. Likely the opportunity to start immediately with a reasonably strong roster in a division where he can compete to win – Boise State were the runners-up in the Mountain West this past season will have been strong factors influencing his division.
Presumably as well, the opportunity to stay in and around the west coast – as a California kid – staying close(ish) to home by moving to nearby Idaho, will have played into the transfer equation.
It will be interesting to see what Nelson has learnt from his time with offensive guru, Lincoln Riley, and how he fares in the Mountain West at Boise State.
For Additional Content
Hello there. If you enjoyed this article (or, really, even if you didn’t). Please go and follow me on Twitter @danielarwas for more NFL breaking news, updates, and “special edition” previews.