Home › Malachi Nelson

Malachi Nelson

 

Malachi Nelson
6’-3” 205 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 arrived at USC as one of the nation’s most highly regarded quarterback recruits, ranked No. 1 nationally by ESPN in the 2023 recruiting class. He redshirted his freshman season while serving as a backup to 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams. Seeking greater playing opportunities, he transferred to Boise State in 2024, but was unable to secure the starting job and appeared in just three games. He transferred again, joining UTEP for the 2025 season, where he opened the year as the starting quarterback. After starting six games, he was benched following a difficult stretch of performances. In January 2026, Nelson transferred to Syracuse. Initially a backup, he earned two consecutive starts in October following injuries to other quarterbacks. He threw for 532 yards and three touchdowns in those appearances before suffering a high ankle sprain that required surgery. He is currently working toward a return to action.

Major Milestones

  • Signed with USC as a five-star recruit and ESPN’s No. 1-ranked player in the 2023 recruiting class
  • Served as backup to 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams at USC
  • Transferred to Boise State for the 2024 season
  • Transferred to UTEP for the 2025 season
  • Named UTEP’s starting quarterback and started the first six games of the 2025 season
  • Threw for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns at UTEP in 2025
  • Transferred to Syracuse in January 2026
  • Earned first two starts for Syracuse against Virginia and Louisville in October 2026
  • Threw for 532 yards and three touchdowns in his first two Syracuse starts
  • Underwent tightrope surgery for a high ankle sprain (October 22, 2026)

Last updated 11/5/26