A former highly-rated quarterback prospect, Malachi Nelson, is entering the NCAA transfer portal for the third time. This move comes as the 2026 NCAA transfer portal cycle is currently active, providing a two-week window that began on Friday and will continue until January 16. Over 3,000 players from various college football programs have opted to enter the portal this offseason, with many looking to transfer to their second or third school. However, Nelson is seeking his fourth institution.
The 6-foot-3, 193-pound signal-caller commenced his college football career at USC in 2023. Recruited by head coach Lincoln Riley, he was regarded as a five-star quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class. Nelson made a minimal impact during his time with the Trojans, appearing only once in a decisive win against San Jose State to kick off the 2023 season, where he completed one of his three pass attempts. Following the departure of Caleb Williams, he would have been in competition with Miller Moss for the starting job at USC in 2024, but he chose to transfer instead.
In the 2024 offseason, Nelson committed to Boise State from the transfer portal. However, the Broncos opted to start Maddux Madsen that season, leading to limited opportunities for Nelson, who played in just three games. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 128 yards, along with one interception, before deciding to enter the portal again the subsequent offseason.
Nelson then transferred to UTEP ahead of the 2025 college football season. He started the first six games for the Miners, accumulating 1,163 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Unfortunately for Nelson, head coach Scotty Walden benched him in favor of returning starter Skyler Locklear in mid-October. UTEP concluded its 2025 season with a disappointing 2-10 record, finishing 1-7 in Conference USA, placing them second-to-last in the league, just above Sam Houston State.
The Miners secured their only non-conference victory against UT Martin on September 6, 2025, with a score of 42-17. Their non-conference schedule included losses to Utah State (28-16), Texas (27-10), and UL Monroe (31-25). Moreover, UTEP struggled in Conference USA play, failing to win any home games against Louisiana Tech (30-11), Liberty (19-8), Jacksonville State (30-27), and New Mexico State (34-31). Their sole conference win came against Sam Houston State on October 15, 2025, with a score of 35-17. The team also suffered further losses to Kennesaw State (33-20), Missouri State (38-24), and Delaware (61-31).
