Malachi Nelson’s high school achievements indicated he would have an impressive college career. However, his first two seasons haven’t lived up to the expectations. A unanimous five-star recruit and ESPN’s top player in the Class of 2023, many anticipated Nelson would play right away.
The California native was named the 2022 Gatorade California Player of the Year and selected as a 2023 Under Armour All-American and Polynesian Bowl All-Star in his senior year.
Initially committed to Oklahoma, Nelson followed Lincoln Riley to USC. However, he found himself overshadowed by Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams, who was drafted first overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. Although Nelson’s playing time was expected to increase after Williams’ departure, he chose to transfer to Boise State the following season.
He redshirted his freshman year, appearing in just one game where he went 1-for-3 for no yards against San Jose State on August 26, 2023. This redshirt status leaves him with all four years of NCAA eligibility as he moves to Idaho.
At Boise State, he is competing for the starting quarterback job against redshirt sophomore Maddux Madsen. Madsen, a two-time Mountain West Freshman of the Week, made one start last season, amassing 1,191 passing yards and nine touchdowns, along with 120 rushing yards and two scores.
Nelson’s transfer to Boise State was announced in January, and since then, both quarterbacks have been vying for the starting position. Recently, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Madsen has been named the starting quarterback for the season opener against Georgia Southern on August 31, likely leaving Nelson as the backup.
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Given that ESPN rated Nelson as a five-star recruit and Madsen as a three-star, it’s surprising that Madsen secured the starting position over Nelson. However, Madsen’s additional two years of experience at Boise State may have influenced the decision.
Both players are still relatively new to college football. Nelson is heading into his second season, while Madsen is kicking off his third. This indicates that their competition could continue for several seasons to come.
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