EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — UTEP football head coach Scotty Walden told reporters on Monday that the quarterback group he has this spring is "the most competitive room he's had." There is a total of seven quarterbacks on UTEP's 2025 spring roster. There are five returnees (four of them got game-tim e snaps last season), and two newcomers. One of the newcomers is Malachi Nelson. “It is a business-like approach with him [Malachi Nelson]. When he first got here, he would text me and ask me to watch extra film,” Walden said. “He’s been in the film room studying the offense ahead of time. I’ve been super impressed watching him.” Nelson is arguably UTEP's biggest pick up of the offseason. Nelson was a five-star high school recruit and the top-ranked high school recruit in the Class of 2023. The product out of Los Alamitos High School did not get much action in the first two years of his collegiate career as he had to sit back and watch some pretty great quarterbacks ahead of him. Nelson began his NCAA career at USC in 2023. He was a backup quarterback to 2022 Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Willaims. In 2023, Williams threw for 3,333 yards and had 31 passing touchdowns. In 2024, Williams was the top pick in the NFL draft. Nelson then transferred to Boise State for the 2024 season. Nelson was a backup quarterback to Madsen Maddux. Maddux passed for 3,018 yards and helped Boise State put together a 12-2 season and make the College Football Playoff. After two seasons of not getting that much playing time, Nelson entered the NCAA transfer portal again. He had options in the offseason but ultimately decided to head to UTEP for the 2025 season. “I remember almost being set on another place and then calling [Scotty] Walden and having a real conversation with him and I felt like that was the turning point and that [UTEP] was somewhere where I felt comfortable,” UTEP redshirt sophomore quarterback Malachi Nelson said Monday. “What I’m going to bring is a work ethic that is unmatched. I am going to bring a winning attitude. Losing is not in me. I don’t like to lose.” Today was the first time we spoke with QB Malachi Nelson since he joined UTEP.The former 5-star QB and Boise State transfer is arguably UTEP's biggest pick up of the offseason.Here's Nelson on his decision to come to El Paso for 2025.#PicksUp pic.twitter.com/GfNzr96T5W— Sam Guzman (@SamGuzmanTV) March 18, 2025 Nelson is starting spring camp taking reps with the reserves of the squad. He'll look to work his way up to taking snaps with the first team. Running with the first team right now is Skyler Locklear. Locklear was UTEP’s starting quarterback for a majority of last season. He ended 2024 in form and returns with much more experience and confidence. UTEP quarterback Skyler Locklear (9) throws to a receiver during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) "He's always been a confident kid, but when you get the number of snaps he got last year at the FBS level, and also his first year as a starting quarterback in college, you can tell there's a level of confidence and a level of understanding." UTEP head coach Scotty Walden said about Locklear. UTEP QB Skyler Locklear met with the media today after the first spring practice to talk about what’s new in 2025 #MinerTalk @600espnelpaso pic.twitter.com/H0QYCM9dJn— Adrian Broaddus (@AdrianBroaddus) March 17, 2025 "I've been here for a year, started last year. I have all the confidence in the world, and I think I am just going out there and being the best version of myself that I can be," UTEP redshirt junior quarterback Skyler Locklear said. "I made a lot of great plays last year, but I also made a lot of bad ones. My goal this year is to eliminate the bad ones and be a better game manager." Then there's Cade McConnell. The redshirt senior played in six games last year and threw four touchdown passes. McConnell suffered a wrist injury last season and had surgery on it in the offseason. He is currently working his way back to 100%. There are also the young guns. JP Pickles, Shay Smith, and Michael Southern all return to UTEP as redshirt freshman. Pickles played in three games and started one in 2024. Smith showed flashes of what he can do all over the field in four games played last year. Then there's true freshman Chad Warner. He's a product out of Cibolo Steele High School. “I told the quarterbacks last night that this is the most competitive room I’ve ever had,” Walden said on Monday. “There can’t be a day that you let up.” There is still the entire spring season and fall camp to go through, but you’d have to expect Nelson to be the massive favorite to be UTEP’s starting QB once the season rolls around. But again, there is still a lot of work to be done until Walden decides on a starter for the 2025 season. ...read more read less