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2025 Opponent Offseason Storylines: UTEP has a five-star quarterback?

Joe Cookby:Joe Cook•05/03/25•

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NCAA Football: Utah State at Boise State
Oct 5, 2024; Boise, Idaho, USA; Boise State Broncos quarterback Malachi Nelson (7) looks to throw during the second half against the Utah State Aggies at Albertsons Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Losness-Imagn Images

Believe it or not, the UTEP Miners have a five-star quarterback on their roster.

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There are a lot of qualifications behind that description of Malachi Nelson. Nelson, the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 11 overall prospect in the 2023 class, has not come close to living up to five-star billing at two different schools. He did not defeat Miller Moss in a battle to become Caleb Williams‘ successor at USC, then he couldn’t edge Maddux Madsen at Boise State.

Both Lincoln Riley and Spencer Danielson were lured to Nelson by some of his traits, but those traits have not come to life on the field. In his career, Nelson has attempted only 20 passes for 128 yards and one interception. That’s not to say his in-game displays weren’t of the needed quality for either coach, but rather that what Nelson did on the practice field never was enough for those coaches to trust the former five-star to lead a team with heavy expectations.

UTEP is in a way different boat. Scotty Walden and the Miners aren’t going to set College Football Playoff contention as their goal anytime soon, and any press is good press when it comes to UTEP. Often forgotten in the grand scheme of Lone Star State football, Walden and company are looking to not only bolster their roster after a 3-9 debut season but also attract attention to a program where it’s hard to get eyes.

Nelson does that, even if his career so far hasn’t lived up to expectations. Injuries haven’t helped, but that won’t change the fact that Nelson is the highest rated recruit to ever suit up for the orange and blue in the Sun Bowl.

Nelson has three years of eligibility remaining, and it may turn out that Nelson plays well enough in El Paso to grab another opportunity in the Power Five. But for the Miners, he’ll try to lead a squad that was No. 122 in scoring offense to greater heights in 2025.

For Texas, this won’t be the first or only highly-touted quarterback the Longhorns will face in 2025. Whoever wins the quarterback battle at Ohio State will bring more to the table than Nelson, and will have stronger pieces surrounding him. But Kenny Odom and Kam Thomas, two of the Miners’ leading receivers last year, will be there for Nelson to throw to.

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It’ll be hard for Nelson to live up to his five-star billing, even with a quality season at UTEP. But a five-star quarterback has certain traits, and Nelson will bring those to Austin on Sept. 6. Texas will have to make sure the Los Alamitos (Calif.) product doesn’t begin his redemption story on the 40 Acres, a slightly more difficult challenge than what other Group of Five teams in the non-conference will provide.

2025 Opponent Offseason Storylines

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