Coach Fran Brown Jr.'s Syracuse football team is 2-2 on the season and recently added a talented former five-star prospect to its playing rotation. Amari Odom led the Orange to a 42-41 win over UConn in Week 5, but joined fellow injured QB Steve Angeli afterward as he suffered an injury, leading to Brown Jr. making a tentative decision on his starter for Week 6.

Brown Jr.'s tentative decision will elevate another former five-star prospect to a leadership position in his team's offense.

“Syracuse is expected to start Malachi Nelson at quarterback against Virginia tomorrow, sources tell CBS Sports,” reporter Matt Zenitz wrote. “The former five-star recruit, who began his career at USC, transferred to Syracuse this past offseason. Last week's starter, Amari Odom, is doubtful for Syracuse due to an injury.”

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Angeli played the first three weeks of the season and led Syracuse to a 1-2 record. The former Notre Dame signal caller gave way to Odom's big five touchdown performance last week, which came with soreness in his throwing shoulder. Nelson started out at USC in 2023 before moving on to Boise State and UTEP. He threw for 1,163 yards, eight touchdowns and nine interceptions with the Miners last season, disappointing numbers for a former five-star quarterback.

Nelson will now have a chance to revive his college football career with Brown Jr.'s Orange against the Cavaliers at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, Virginia against the 3-2 Cavaliers. Brown Jr. is known as a disciplinarian after his postgame reward from the UConn game, but he seems to have a special touch with young players coming up the ranks. Orange fans will have a chance to witness an interesting Syracuse debut from Nelson, as he seeks to tap into his enormous physical talents.