Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Klutch Sports Reportedly Signs 1st High School Athlete

  • Malachi Nelson is the top-ranked football player in the 2023 class.
  • According to On3’s rankings, Nelson has an NIL valuation of $738,000.
Malachi Nelson

One of the nation’s top high school football recruits is making history for a prominent sports agency.

QB Malachi Nelson — the No. 1-ranked recruit on ESPN’s class of 2023 rankings — is signing with Klutch Sports, per Pete Thamel.

Nelson — who is committed to play at USC but took a visit with Texas A&M recently — is Klutch’s first high school client. The agency will presumably represent him in negotiations for NIL deals.

According to On3’s NIL rankings, Nelson has an NIL valuation of $738,000 — good for 39th on the list and well behind Arch Manning, the highest-valued football recruit in his class (No. 3 overall).

It’s a further foray into the NIL world for the agency founded by Rich Paul and LeBron James.

Klutch signed then-USC QB Kedon Slovis in the immediate months following NIL legalization, and in a conversation with Front Office Sports in February, executive Jade-Li English emphasized that the agency is doing its best to be a resource for college and high school athletes in the space.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Expensive Texas Tech Roster Brings New Fans to College Softball

NIL discussion and transfer controversies are drawing attention to the Red Raiders.

ACC’s Brazil CFB Game Scrapped With Return to Virginia

NC State and Virginia were set to face off in Rio de Janeiro.

Carlsbad Is Emerging as College Golf’s Signature Stage

The NCAA golf championships have reached a fever pitch.

Featured Today

The Elite High Schools Hosting World Cup Teams

Spain, Morocco, Croatia, and Switzerland chose schools as their tournament base camps.
Frances Cabral-Delaney
May 29, 2026

How Arsenal Fandom Went ‘Manic’

“People do not become Arsenal fans because it’s easy,” says Zohran Mamdani.
May 23, 2026; Anaheim, California, USA; Fans participate in a tarp off during a MLB game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium
May 28, 2026

‘Tarps Off’: How Shirtless Fans Took Over MLB

The viral movement began with the SFA club baseball team.
Apr 6, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) walks to the on deck circle during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field
May 28, 2026

Why Ballparks Are Louder Than Ever

Some stadiums sound like veritable nightclubs. How did we get here?
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) boards an elevator in the Senate subway during a vote on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 19, 2026.

College Sports Split on Whether to Support Landmark Senate Bill

One detractor said it “would play athletes and organized labor for fools.”
May 28, 2026

Big 12 Coaches Unanimously Back 24-Team CFP Expansion

Every coach voted for a 24-team playoff on Thursday.
Dec 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; BYU Cougars safety Faletau Satuala (11) tackles Texas Tech Red Raiders tight end Terrance Carter Jr. (7) during the game between the Red Raiders and the Cougars at AT&T Stadium.
May 29, 2026

Big 12 Spring Meetings: CFP Expansion and Private-Capital Deal

Most Big 12 leaders support a 24-team CFP, though execution is unclear.
Sponsored

Landon Donovan: What Soccer in America Still Needs

Landon Donovan discusses the evolution of soccer in America and investing in the NWSL.
Nov 28, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; A general view of the the line of scrimmaged during a game between the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and Georgia Bulldogs in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
May 28, 2026

At SEC Spring Meetings, a Consensus on Problems, but Not Solutions

Georgia discussed a “breakaway,” where the SEC would set or enforce its own rules.
May 27, 2026

Big 12 Commish Already Eyeing Next Media Deal, Bigger Payday

The conference’s media deals with Fox and ESPN run through this decade.
May 27, 2026

Big 12 Coaches Back March Madness Expansion: Bigger Is Better

Next year’s tournament will expand from 68 to 76 teams.
Ted Cruz
May 27, 2026

Senators Introduce Long-Awaited Bipartisan College Sports Bill

The bill comes one week after the House canceled another vote on the SCORE Act.