Boise State has decided to go with returning quarterback Maddux Madsen as their starter for the upcoming season, edging out high-profile transfer Malachi Nelson.
Madsen, who played in nine games last season, has secured the starting job after a competitive offseason battle with the once-heralded Nelson.
Madsen, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound quarterback, impressed in his redshirt freshman year with the Broncos, throwing for 1,191 yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions.
He also demonstrated his mobility by rushing for 120 yards and two touchdowns. A three-star recruit from American Fork High School in Utah, Madsen was ranked as the No. 110 quarterback in the 2022 class.
Nelson, who transferred from USC after redshirting his freshman year, was expected to challenge for the starting position.
The 6-foot-3, 193-pounder was a highly-touted recruit, once seen as the successor to Caleb Williams at USC before it became clear that Miller Moss was Lincoln Riley’s next great quarterback.
Despite interest from top programs like Alabama, Miami, and Texas A&M, Nelson chose Boise State, hoping to rejuvenate his career after an injury-plagued stint at USC.
Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson emphasized that the starting role is not set in stone.
“Whoever the starter is as we go through it will be the starter,” Danielson said. “Now, they don’t play well, they’re making bad decisions, whatever that might be in the game, we’re going to make changes.
“But we’re going to go in with a starter, and then we’ll adapt and adjust from there.”
Nelsonās journey to Boise State has been marked by challenges, including playing through a torn labrum in his senior year of high school and struggling to find a foothold in USC’s quarterback room behind Williams and Moss.
Despite these setbacks, Nelson remains a highly-regarded talent with a strong arm and high football IQ.
“He played through a torn labrum on his off-throwing shoulder that required surgery his senior year,” 247Sports’ Greg Biggins stated. “He early enrolled at USC but was never healthy and was the No. 3 guy on the depth chart behind Caleb Williams and Miller Moss.
“There is no doubt that he has talent and is one of the better pure throwers to come out of Southern California in recent years. He has an advanced feel for the position and his football intelligence is extremely high.”
Boise State opens its 2024 season on August 31 at Georgia Southern, with Madsen leading the charge as the Broncos’ new starting quarterback.
After the disappointment of losing the starting job wears off, Nelson will come to the realization that he’ll have plenty of opportunities to get his football career back on track.
Having said that, what are your thoughts on his slow development to this point? … Do you think he made a mistake transferring to Boise State?
Most importantly, do you think Nelson will end up living up to the massive hype he once had???