Malachi Nelson is the 'Steady Hand' at Elite 11 Finals
It’s never surprising to see USC 2023 Five-Star Plus+ quarterback commit Malachi Nelson listed as a standout at any event in which he participates. That was the case again last week, when Nelson was named one of the Elite 11 quarterbacks following his performance at the Elite 11 Finals.
The event consisted of individual drills, a Pro Day session and a 7-on-7 showcase.
On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings, Charles Power, was in attendance to gauge the performances. He came away with his rankings as well as superlatives among the 20 quarterbacks in attendance.
Nelson Finishes No. 5
Power slotted Nelson as the No. 5 quarterback at the event.
His breakdown stated:
“Malachi Nelson didn’t have a ton of dominant moments over the course of the week, but was in the top group in most settings. Nelson had one of the better 7-on-7 sessions on Thursday, going 11 of 19 for three touchdowns. He did take two timed sacks. Even though Nelson wasn’t on his A-game, his talent and passing polish showed an elevated floor relative to many others. Nelson’s quick release and ability to throw with touch allowed for a steady showing day-over-day.
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Overall, Nelson looked a bit better at the Elite 11 Finals than when we saw him at OT7 earlier in the month, where he may have been dealing with some shoulder soreness. Moving forward, the USC commit would benefit to continuing to add some strength.”
The Steady Hand
And as far as superlatives, Nelson came away with Power’s “Steady Hand” Award.
He said: “Malachi Nelson didn’t wow on any one occasion, but was one of the more consistent performers over the course of the three days. The Five-Star Plus+ USC commit has one of the more polished passing skill sets on hand. Even when he’s not on his A-game, we see Nelson’s skill level shine through, pointing to a high floor as a prospect. Nelson was probably at his best during 7-on-7 play on Thursday, where he went 11 for 19 for three touchdowns.”
