Second Consecutive USC Player Named to Adopt-A-Player Family
As you may know, Football Weblog began “adopting players” in 2021. The idea is to randomly select a top 50 high school skill position prospect each season to call our own, and then follow his career along the way. Will the player bomb out and end up flipping burgers in a couple of years, or will he blossom into an NFL star who is eventually fitted to wear a gold Pro Football Hall of Fame jacket? No matter how it plays out, it will prove to be compelling.
The football stork gave us running backs the first two seasons. In 2021, running back Will Shipley was named the inaugural Adopt-A-Player. Shipley plays for the Clemson Tigers and continues to gain recognition for his agility, speed, and versatility on the field.
In 2022, running back Raleek Brown was added to Football Weblog’s Adopt-A-Player fold. Brown plays for the USC Trojans and is also known for his versatility. Brown continues to be a promising prospect despite the potential for some competition at his position heading into this season.
This season marks the first quarterback to be adopted. The 2023 Adopt-A-Player is…
Malachi Nelson
6’-3” 180 lbs
Position: QB
Hometown: Los Alamitos, CA
Commit Status: USC (signed December 21, 2022)
Malachi Nelson – Get to Know Him
Incredibly, Malachi Nelson becomes the second Adopt-A-Player to join the same college team. Last season’s selection, Raleek Brown, also plays for the USC Trojans, so this marks consecutive seasons where players from the same college team have been chosen.
Nelson possesses excellent off-platform passing ability and play making skills, with natural fluidity in his movements. He has arm talent, accuracy, and field vision that make him one of the most natural throwers in the 2023 class of high school recruits. In addition to having a knack for finding open receivers, he can also use his athleticism to extend plays and occasionally run the ball. Nelson is considered one of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation, with the promise to be an impactful starter at the D1 level with potential to eventually be an early-round NFL Draft pick.
Welcome to the Football Weblog Adopt-A-Player family, Malachi!