Clemson and Oklahoma dueling it out for 5-star quarterback recruit Malachi Nelson

Clemson and Oklahoma are the two best programs for college football quarterbacks so it’s no surprise they’re battling it out for five-star signal-caller Malachi Nelson.

Clemson football fans will rejoice if their favorite team lands five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson for 2023, as would the entire Oklahoma football team. These are the two blue-blood programs seriously vying for his high-profile commitment.

Nelson is scheduled to visit these two schools in June and could be making a decision sooner rather than later. According to the 247Sports Composite, Nelson is the No. 1 player from California, the No. 2 pro-style passer in his class and the No. 4 overall rated prospect for 2023.

The Los Alamitos, California native has 24 formal offers with experts believing the Sooners have the edge to sign the talented recruit.

Malachi Nelson could be the next great quarterback at Oklahoma or Clemson

What is interesting in Nelson’s recruitment is he does not have a formal offer from Clemson yet. Again, that could be coming, but Oklahoma is the only one of the two to have sent him a formal offer at this time. What is also interesting is who he ranks directly behind in the 247Sports Composite for 2023: Arch Manning of New Orleans. How can Manning impact Nelson’s decision?

Given what football family Manning hails from, it seems like a foregone conclusion he will play at an SEC school. Clemson and Oklahoma are among the most dominant non-SEC programs. Because both schools currently have a starting quarterback from the West Coast in D.J. Uiagalelei and Spencer Rattler, it won’t be shocking to see Nelson go to either team.

Again, this is early, but we have to give Oklahoma the slightest of leanings toward getting Nelson’s commitment over Clemson. He got his official offer from Lincoln Riley’s staff first. Nelson would only be playing halfway across the country in Norman than all the way across it in Clemson. Oklahoma has shown a better track record of having its quarterbacks win Heismans and will hold a 2-1 lead over Clemson with their quarterbacks going first in the NFL Draft.

Nelson may make his decision later this summer, but it may come down to Clemson or Oklahoma.

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