Malachi Nelson
Malachi Nelson
6’-3” 193 lbs
Position: QB
Hometown: Los Alamitos, CA
Current Team: Syracuse Orange
Malachi Nelson – Get to Know Him
High School – Los Alamitos Griffins
Malachi Nelson emerged early as one of the most elite quarterback prospects in the country while playing at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California. A consensus five‑star recruit and widely regarded as the top quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class, Nelson drew national attention for his accuracy, arm talent, and production against elite competition. He earned multiple state and national honors, competed in elite quarterback showcases, and finished his prep career with prolific passing numbers and leadership recognition.
Major Milestones
- Consensus five‑star recruit and one of the top national prospects in the 2023 class
- Named Gatorade California Player of the Year multiple times
- Under Armour All‑American and Polynesian Bowl participant
- Competed in the 2022 Elite 11 Finals
College – USC Trojans / Boise State Broncos / UTEP Miners / Syracuse Orange
Nelson enrolled early at the University of Southern California and redshirted his freshman season while serving as a backup to 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Role changes and limited opportunities led him to enter the transfer portal, moving first to Boise State, where he appeared in a limited number of games. He later transferred to UTEP, winning the starting quarterback role for the 2025 season. In early 2026, Nelson entered the transfer portal again and committed to Syracuse University, where he is expected to compete for the starting quarterback job.
Major Milestones
- Signed with the USC Trojans as a highly ranked quarterback recruit
- Served as backup to 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams at USC
- Transferred to the Boise State Broncos in pursuit of playing time
- Named starting quarterback for the UTEP Miners for the 2025 season
- Transferred to the Syracuse Orange and joined the program for the 2026 season