Boise State could make one of the most notable additions of the entire college football offseason.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Boise State will host former USC quarterback Malachi Nelson for an official visit. Nelson arrived at USC as a 5-star prospect and the No. 12 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings, but decided to enter the transfer portal this offseason.
The Broncos could use a playmaker at quarterback after Taylen Green, who won the 2022 Mountain West Freshman of the Year, left to join Arkansas this offseason.
Green appeared in 13 games this season and completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 1,752 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions while adding 436 yards and nine scores on the ground as a runner.
The addition of Nelson would be all about potential.
After all, he had just three pass attempts for the Trojans during the 2023 campaign as he sat behind potential No. 1 overall draft pick Caleb Williams. USC surely hoped he would be the quarterback of the future under head coach Lincoln Riley when it recruited him, but that will no longer be the case.
Boise State's ceiling would instantly elevate with the addition of someone like Nelson, especially given all the returning talent that would be in place around him.
"Boise is the favorite to land Nelson, who is looking for a blue-collar program to blend in and prove himself," Thamel wrote. "Nelson's attraction to Boise stems from the opportunity to grow with a strong program that includes 18 returning starters, four starting OL and star RB Ashton Jeanty."
The Broncos would be a dangerous team with Nelson under center in 2024, especially in a notable nonconference game against Oregon.
