I’ll say this first. Without a doubt, Malachi Nelson could be a huge bust. But looking at it in perspective, he should be a major upgrade from who we have.
He wasn’t going to beat Dillon Gabriel out at USC. It’s not crazy that he didn’t beat Maddux Madsen out at Boise State either. Madsen passed for 3000 yards, 23 TDs and only 6 picks, in a very run heavy offense. He fits the BSU system well.
Considering who MN’s competition is this year, no one even comes close to Gabriel’s or Madsen’s abilities. Nelson was a consensus 5 star QB, emphasis on “consensus”. Unless he turns out to be the biggest poser ever, he should perform well at this level, provided he has some good/decent receivers. I guess I should add that if he’s a head case, which is possible, that could be a major hindrance, too.