Accordingly, USC quarterback Malachi Nelson is expected to enter the transfer portal after just one season with the Trojans 247Sport. Nelson was a former five-star recruit who has been working with USC coach Lincoln Riley since July 2021.
Nelson was a blue-chip recruit who was constantly in contention to become the No. 1 quarterback in the class of 2023. In the end, he was ranked as the No. 5 passer and No. 13 recruit in the Los Alamitos High School Top247 rankings in Southern California. Nelson initially committed to Oklahoma, but transferred to USC two days after Riley left the Sooners for the Trojans.
The Southern California native, along with wide receiver Zachariah Branch and tight end Duce Robinson, were the crown jewels of Riley's first full recruiting class at USC. Nelson was expected to compete for the starting job in 2024, but he enters the portal after completing just three passes and zero career passing yards at USC.
Riley was one of the most successful quarterback developers of the 21st century, developing three of his five starting quarterbacks into Heisman Trophy winners during his stints at Oklahoma and USC. The previous two – Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray – were selected No. 1 in the NFL Draft. Caleb Williams, Riley's incumbent at USC, is expected to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. Riley also helped turn Jalen Hurts into a second-round pick and eventual All-Pro with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Where the Trojans go from here
USC has been openly linked to several quarterbacks in the transfer portal, including Kansas State's Will Howard, Washington State's Cameron Ward and Texas' Maalik Murphy. Murphy is a Southern California native from Junipero Serra. The Trojans haven't signed a single passer in the 2024 or 2025 class, but Riley does have a commitment from Julian Lewis, the No. 1 overall player in the 2026 class.
Williams opted out of the Trojans' Holiday Bowl game on Dec. 27. Sophomore Miller Moss is listed as the primary backup and should likely start. If Nelson is unavailable, Moss would be the only active scholarship quarterback in the bowl game.