Syracuse, N.Y. — Quarterback and former five-star prospect Malachi Nelson has committed to Syracuse football, according to his agent.
Nelson, who was ranked as the No. 11 player in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports, has played college football at Southern California, Boise State and UTEP.
Nelson began last season as the starter at UTEP but was benched mid-way through the season in favor of Skyler Locklear.
During five games as a starter, Nelson completed 104 of 190 passes (54.7 percent) for 1,163 yards. He threw eight touchdown passes and nine interceptions.
He did not throw more than 17 passes in a season in either of his previous stops. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
He is a client of The Network Advisory, the same agency utilized by freshman wide receiver Calvin Russell and head coach Fran Brown.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Syracuse program and be part of what Coach Brown is building,” Nelson said in a statement from his agency. “From the start there was a genuine level of trust and communication, which mattered to me and my family. I am focused on putting in the work and earning my role.”
The Miners finished 2-10 last year. They went 1-4 in games where Nelson was the starter.
Nelson was listed by UTEP at 6-foot-3 and 193 pounds.
Nelson left the USC during the offseason before the 2024 season when Miller Moss served as the team’s starter. He left Boise State this offseason, when the Broncos started Maddux Madsen at quarterback.
His addition to Syracuse’s roster gives the Orange three quarterbacks who have been starters at the FBS level next season, and four quarterbacks on the roster who have experience as a starter in college.
Syracuse returns starting quarterback Steve Angeli. In addition to Nelson, Syracuse has added Kennesaw State starter Amari Odom and Georgetown starter Danny Lauter in the transfer portal.
The experience in SU’s quarterback room should be significantly different from last year when the only Orange quarterback was Steve Angeli.
Angeli had never been a full-time starter before earning the job with the Orange but he had some playing experience, starting a bowl game for Notre Dame and making critical plays late in a College Football Playoff game.
The Orange season fell apart as a number of inexperience quarterbacks struggled after Angeli suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon.
