2023 USC Football Spring Roster
Roster
Nelson, Malachi
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Jersey Number 8
Malachi Nelson
- Position:
- Quarterback
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 180
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Los Alamitos, Calif.
- High School:
- Los Alamitos HS
Bio
2022: Nelson, the decorated recruit who enrolled at USC in the spring of 2022 after graduating a semester early from high school, will compete at the quarterback position as a true freshman in 2023.
HIGH SCHOOL: He was listed as the No. 1 ranked recruit in the nation per ESPN. Nelson was also named the 2022 Gatorade California Player of the Year.
As a senior on varsity, he was named a 2023 Under Armour All-American and a 2023 Polynesian Bowl All-Star. He went 192-for-286 (.671) for 2,898 yards and 35 TDs with 4 INTs. He rushed for 153 yards on 23 carries (6.7 avg) with 2 TDs to help Los Alamitos earn first place in the Sunset League going 5-0 and went 9-3 overall, reaching the CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. He also competed at 2022 Elite 11 Finals. Before the season, Nelson was named to the 2022 Preseason All-CIF Division I Team, 2022 MaxPreps California Preseason All-State First Team and the 2022 MaxPreps All-America Second Team.
As a junior on varsity, he was named the 2021 Gatorade California Player of the Year. He went 170-for-275 (.618) for 2,690 yards and 39 TDs with 8 INTs. He rushed for 192 yards on 34 carries (5.6 avg.) with 2 TDs. He also caught 1 pass for 19 yards. He was named the 2021 Long Beach Press-Telegram Player of the Year and to the 2021 All-CIF Southern Section Division I Team. Additionally, he made the 2021 MaxPreps California All-State First Team, the 2021 MaxPreps Junior All-America Second Team, the 2021 MaxPreps Preseason California All-State First Team and the 2021 MaxPreps Preseason All-American Second Team.
As a sophomore on varsity in an abbreviated six-game season, he went 85-for-115 (.739) for 1,513 yards and 23 TDs with 4 INTs. Rushed for 49 yards on 17 carries (2.9 avg.) with 1 TD. He was named to the MaxPreps California All-State First Team. He set the Los Alamitos school record for touchdown passes in a game with seven as a sophomore – the third most in Orange County history. He was selected to the 2020 MaxPreps Preseason Sophomore All-America Second Team.
As a freshman on varsity, he went 64-for-148 (.432) for 883 yards and 8 TDs with 5 INTs. Rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries (5.7 avg.). He was named to the 4 Vert 7v7 Passing League Hall of Fame in 2019.
Current Trojan Makai Lemon also prepped at Los Alamitos.
PERSONAL: He is majoring in Communication at USC with a 3.75 GPA.
HIGH SCHOOL: He was listed as the No. 1 ranked recruit in the nation per ESPN. Nelson was also named the 2022 Gatorade California Player of the Year.
As a senior on varsity, he was named a 2023 Under Armour All-American and a 2023 Polynesian Bowl All-Star. He went 192-for-286 (.671) for 2,898 yards and 35 TDs with 4 INTs. He rushed for 153 yards on 23 carries (6.7 avg) with 2 TDs to help Los Alamitos earn first place in the Sunset League going 5-0 and went 9-3 overall, reaching the CIF Southern Section Division 1 semifinals. He also competed at 2022 Elite 11 Finals. Before the season, Nelson was named to the 2022 Preseason All-CIF Division I Team, 2022 MaxPreps California Preseason All-State First Team and the 2022 MaxPreps All-America Second Team.
As a junior on varsity, he was named the 2021 Gatorade California Player of the Year. He went 170-for-275 (.618) for 2,690 yards and 39 TDs with 8 INTs. He rushed for 192 yards on 34 carries (5.6 avg.) with 2 TDs. He also caught 1 pass for 19 yards. He was named the 2021 Long Beach Press-Telegram Player of the Year and to the 2021 All-CIF Southern Section Division I Team. Additionally, he made the 2021 MaxPreps California All-State First Team, the 2021 MaxPreps Junior All-America Second Team, the 2021 MaxPreps Preseason California All-State First Team and the 2021 MaxPreps Preseason All-American Second Team.
As a sophomore on varsity in an abbreviated six-game season, he went 85-for-115 (.739) for 1,513 yards and 23 TDs with 4 INTs. Rushed for 49 yards on 17 carries (2.9 avg.) with 1 TD. He was named to the MaxPreps California All-State First Team. He set the Los Alamitos school record for touchdown passes in a game with seven as a sophomore – the third most in Orange County history. He was selected to the 2020 MaxPreps Preseason Sophomore All-America Second Team.
As a freshman on varsity, he went 64-for-148 (.432) for 883 yards and 8 TDs with 5 INTs. Rushed for 109 yards on 19 carries (5.7 avg.). He was named to the 4 Vert 7v7 Passing League Hall of Fame in 2019.
Current Trojan Makai Lemon also prepped at Los Alamitos.
PERSONAL: He is majoring in Communication at USC with a 3.75 GPA.
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