We were promised a hectic quarterback carousel when the college football transfer portal opened, and so far, we haven’t been disappointed. An array of passers with varying production and experience have entered the portal, with former five-star recruit Malachi Nelson one of the latest to look for a new home.
Where are some potential landing spots for the talented passer?
Where Could Malachi Nelson Transfer?
Boise State Broncos quarterback Nelson entered the transfer portal following a disappointing redshirt freshman season.
A former five-star recruit, he began his career with the USC Trojans before entering the portal at the conclusion of the 2023 season and landing at Boise State.
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He was beat out for the starting job during fall camp by Maddux Madsen and only saw three games of action in 2024, throwing for 128 yards and one interception. With three years of eligibility remaining, the talented Nelson should see interest in the portal.
Which teams could be interested? Here are five potential transfer portal landing spots for Nelson.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Nelson received an offer from the Ohio State Buckeyes out of high school, and could head to Columbus hoping to win the starting quarterback job next fall. Current starter Will Howard will declare for the 2025 NFL Draft following the season, while backup Devin Brown has already entered his name into the portal.
Class of 2025 five-star QB recruit Tavien St. Clair committed to Ohio State earlier this month, and head coach Ryan Day has already stated that he will have a chance to compete for the starting job immediately. If the Buckeyes want to bring in more talent and competition, Nelson’s name could be on their radar.
California Golden Bears
If Nelson aims to return to his home state, the California Golden Bears could be a great option. After losing starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the Bears will likely be looking in the portal for someone who can execute their spread offense.
Enter Nelson, the strong-armed California kid, who, much like Mendoza, flashes athleticism exiting the pocket and pushing the ball downfield. If head coach Justin Wilcox hopes to compete in the ACC for years to come, Nelson may be a key target for the Bears.
Liberty Flames
Nelson could elect to follow in the footsteps of another highly rated recruit who had a difficult start to his career: Kaidon Salter. Salter began with the Tennessee Volunteers before making a name for himself with the Liberty Flames, operating head coach Jamey Chadwell’s spread option offense in Conference USA.
Salter has entered the portal, opening the door for Nelson to potentially step right in. A conference championship followed by a disappointing 7-5 2024 campaign, expect the Flames to aggressively target a quarterback through the portal in hopes of returning to the top.
Oregon State Beavers
Tucked in Corvallis, Oregon, Nelson would have a great opportunity to start for the Oregon State Beavers while performing under less of a spotlight than in previous stops. In 2023, DJ Uiagalelei excelled with the program after flaming out at the Clemson Tigers.
Nelson could have a similar opportunity. He’ll have to beat out previous off-and-on starter Ben Gulbranson for the position, but with the future navigation of the Pac-12, head coach Trent Bray would likely love to hitch his wagon to a talented prospect like Nelson for years to come.
Wisconsin Badgers
Head coach Luke Fickell’s power-spread offensive approach hasn’t yielded the results he’s looking for. To execute the offense, a quarterback much like Nelson is needed — a strong-armed passer with mobile capabilities.
Nelson learned pro-style and spread systems from his time at Boise State and USC, respectively, which perfectly prepares him for the Wisconsin Badgers’ offensive system.
Add in that three Wisconsin quarterbacks have already entered the portal (including starter Tyler Van Dyke and backup Braedyn Locke), and Madison is looking like a prime spot for a talented signal-caller like Nelson.
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