Former five-star QB recruit Malachi Nelson joining Texas-El Paso after USC, Boise State

Former five-star quarterback recruit Malachi Nelson has signed with UTEP, the Miners announced via social media on Monday.

Nelson is instantly the most talented player to come through UTEP's program, as the former USC and Boise State signal-caller looks to receive substantial playing time for the first time in his career. The rising redshirt sophomore has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

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The 6-foot-3 passer was the No. 11-ranked player and No. 5 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports' Composite rankings, signing with the Trojans. He was originally committed to Oklahoma but flipped once Lincoln Riley departed Norman for Los Angeles.

Nelson turned down more lucrative opportunities at more successful programs to sign with UTEP because of his trust in coach Scotty Walden, ESPN reported Sunday.

Nelson entered the transfer portal after his freshman season with USC and expected to compete for the starting job at Boise State. There, he was beat out by Maddux Madsen, who alongside Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty led the Broncos to the College Football Playoff and a No. 3 seed after winning the Mountain West Conference.

Madsen's success, of course, led to Nelson looking elsewhere.

Malachi Nelson 247Sports rating

• As a recruit: No. 11 overall player | No. 5 QB | No. 2 player from state of California

• As a transfer: No. 334 overall player | No. 30 QB

According to 247Sports' Composite rankings, Nelson was a five-star quarterback coming out of Los Alamitos High School (California), ranked as the No. 11 overall player and No. 5 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class.

As a transfer, Nelson is considered a three-star player. He is the No. 334 overall player in the portal, and the 30th-ranked quarterback.

Malachi Nelson stats

In two collegiate seasons, Nelson completed 13 of 20 passes for 128 yards with no touchdowns to an interception, appearing exclusively in a reserve role.

The Los Alamitos, California, native held offers from the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Oregon and Ohio State, among numerous others out of high school. He hopes to revive his career with UTEP, who finished with a 3-9 record in 2024.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Malachi Nelson joining UTEP after USC, Boise State stops