Malachi Nelson finally made his debut as The University of Texas at El Paso’s (UTEP) starting quarterback on Aug. 30, and it was a mix of promise and challenges.
The Miners fell 28-16 to Utah State, but Nelson offered flashes of the talent that once made him the nation’s No. 1 high school quarterback prospect.
Nelson’s journey to El Paso was unconventional. A standout at Los Alamitos High School in California, he was a five-star recruit in 2021 and initially committed to the University of Southern California (USC), where he developed behind veteran players, such as NFL quarterback, Caleb Williams.
He later transferred to Boise State in search of more playing time before ultimately choosing UTEP to revitalize his college career and give the Miners a much-needed spark as quarterback.
In his debut, Nelson completed 22 of 34 passes for 178 yards, throwing one touchdown and one interception. While the stats may not leap off the page, they reflect a quarterback who stayed composed in his first start and showed the ability to make impactful plays.
UTEP’s offense struggled at times, with stalled drives and pressure in the pocket, but Nelson demonstrated poise and leadership that the Miners have long been missing.
Nelson’s 34-yard touchdown pass to redshirt junior wide receiver Kenny Odom early in the game highlighted his arm strength, accuracy and calmness under pressure.
Even when the Miners faced setbacks, Nelson continued to direct the offense with confidence, Even when the Miners faced setbacks, Nelson continued to direct the offense with confidence, showing that he can handle adversity and keep the team moving forward.
As those who tuned into his performance, many were excited to see Nelson’s debut. One fan talked about his takeaways from watching the new starting quarterback.
“I was kind of excited to see Malachi Nelson start… honestly I think he did very good for his first start. Granted, there was some errors, on his touches of the ball, especially on the deep throws and some of his reads,” history major Adrian Carranza said.
Expectations for Nelson were high. Fans and coaches hoped he could immediately improve the passing game, inject more speed and versatility into the offense, and serve as a leader both on and off the field.
“For it being his first start, he didn’t do too bad,” business major Joshua Esparza said. “Obviously, there’s stuff he could improve on, but that will come with playing more games.”
While Saturday’s game proved that talent alone isn’t enough, it also showed that Nelson has the tools to meet those expectations as the season progresses and the team develops around him.
UTEP’s offensive line and receivers still have work to do, but Nelson’s ability to stay poised, make quick decisions and connect on big plays gives fans a reason to believe in the program’s future.
His debut demonstrated that he can be the leader the Miners have needed for years, providing a foundation for improvement and growth.
For Nelson, the road ahead is long. He must continue developing chemistry with his receivers, improving decision-making under pressure, and learning to operate in an evolving offense.
His debut was a reminder that football is a team sport, it also showed that UTEP finally has a quarterback worth building around.
In the second game of the season, Nelson built on that debut with a commanding performance against University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) on Sept. 6. He completed 23-of-31 passes for 278 yards and threw four touchdown passes in a 42-17 victory.
The game highlighted several key improvements: quicker decision-making, better accuracy on intermediate and deep throws, and improved chemistry with his receivers. Nelson also demonstrated his ability to read defenses more effectively, avoid pressure in the pocket and make plays under stress.
Across both games, Nelson’s strengths were clear: strong arm talent, leadership qualities and the ability to make big plays. Areas for continued growth include consistency on deep passes, timing with his wide receivers and minimizing turnovers.
As the season progresses, these adjustments will be crucial for Nelson to maintain offensive momentum and for UTEP to become more competitive.
While the Miners’ overall team performance remains a work in progress, Nelson’s growth from his debut to the home opener provides optimism. His ability to learn from mistakes, make quick corrections and elevate his game gives fans a reason to believe that the Miners have found a quarterback worth building around.
Adrian Gonzalez is a sophomore multimedia journalism major at The University of Texas at El Paso and may be reached at [email protected]
