Sources: Ex-USC QB Nelson to check out Boise State

• Pete Thamel, ESPNJan 4, 2024, 01:00 PM ET

Quarterback Malachi Nelson, ESPN’s No. 1 overall recruit from 2023, will take a main see to Boise State in the approaching days, sources told ESPN on Thursday.It will be his

very first check out considering that leaving USC, where Nelson spent his freshman season in 2023 before entering the NCAA transfer portal in December. The trip to Boise State will mark his first official visit, as he’s received interest from myriad high-profile programs.Boise State looms as the preferred, sources told ESPN, as Nelson tries to find a blue-collar program where he can mix in and prove himself while maturing with a strong group. After being redshirted at USC in 2023, he would instantly offered with four years of eligibility remaining.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Nelson would have a chance to make the beginning job at Boise State after quarterback Taylen Green’s transfer to Arkansas. The Broncos won the Mountain West championship in 2023 under interim coach Spencer Danielson and have 18 beginners returning.The returning beginners consist of 4 offensive linemen and Mountain West Player of the Year Ashton Jeanty, who led the nation in lawns from scrimmage per game(159.6 ). Jeanty resisted big-money overtures from power conference teams to return to Boise State this year.While at Los Alamitos High School in Southern California, Nelson tossed for 2,898 lawns and 35 goals as a senior, ultimately eclipsing Arch Manning atop the ESPN recruiting rankings. He won back-to-back California Gatorade Gamer of the Year awards and his deal sheet consisted of Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame.Nelson took 4 snaps for USC.While Nelson got interest from larger programs in the website, the potential to play immediately and a strong lineup loomed large in him selecting to first visit Boise State. This go to might wind up as an anecdote that supports the pattern of players in the NIL era looking for playing time over huge brands, as the generations-long path of leading recruits signing with the greatest schools and waiting their turns is being tested.Nelson clicked throughout multiple conversations with Danielson, according to sources, and also has a long-standing relationship with offending coordinator Bush Hamdan. While Hamdan was an assistant at Washington in 2015-16, he began hiring Nelson and stayed in touch with him.Hamdan, a previous Boise State quarterback, brings NFL experience from his time training Matt Ryan with the Atlanta Falcons and runs a pro-style offense, which is appealing to Nelson. There are likewise family ties in Boise, as Nelson’s auntie lives there.Boise State finished 8-6 last season, firing coach Andy Avalos in November before winning the last 3 games to win the Mountain West title.Boise has an abundant recent history that consists of 19 consecutive years of being ranked in the Associated Press poll, a run that ended in 2021. Given that 2006, Boise State made a top-five ranking at some time in the season in 5 different years.