Tuesday, August 18, 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

Teams, Brands Troll Jayden Daniels After LSU Controversy

Daniels sent a cease-and-desist letter after LSU gave away his No. 5.
Kurt Warner
Exclusive

ESPN Closes In on Announce Teams for NFL Network Games

It remains “fluid” whether Jason Kelce will join some game broadcasts.
Feb 11, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; CBS analyst J.J. Watt on the field before Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

J.J. Watt’s CBS Rise Could Reshape the NFL Analyst Pecking Order

Watt will serve as CBS’s top game analyst in Tony Romo’s absence.
First at FOS

Snapback Sports Gets Patch Deal With Sam Houston State, With Perks

It’s just the second patch deal secured by a Conference USA school.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

8/18/26 – Clippers’ Ballmer Reportedly Cleared, Walter Eyes Chelsea Exit, Jayden Daniels Trolled

0:00

Featured Today

Trendy Golf Hat Divide Is More Than a Fashion Fight

As golf has gotten trendier, so has the sport’s style.
Joey Spallina of the Maryland Whipsnakes
August 6, 2026

How Eye Black Became ‘War Paint’ on the Field

“You’re going into battle, doing something you only do on game days.”
August 6, 2026

Tom Brady Explains His Aggressive Push Into Trading Cards

Brady talked to FOS about his eponymous card company.
FILE PHOTO: Cricket - Indian Premier League - IPL - Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings - Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India - April 23, 2026 Mumbai Indians' Suryakumar Yadav in action
August 5, 2026

India Is Stealing Cricket’s Throne From England and Australia

India’s insatiable appetite for cricket has shifted the traditional locus of power.
WPBL
July 30, 2026

Who’s Playing Women’s Professional Baseball?

Sixty players from 11 countries are descending on Illinois for six weeks.
Exclusive

Tarleton State Wants to Jump to the FBS

The Texans are having conversations about how to reach the next level.
First at FOS
August 13, 2026

Illinois’s $30M Busey Bank Deal: Exec Road Trips, Player Job Pipeline

The jersey patch deal is part of an overall $30 million sponsorship.
August 13, 2026

Jayden Daniels Sets Off Firestorm at LSU Over Jersey Number

The Commanders quarterback sent LSU a cease-and-desist letter for using his NIL.
Sponsored

Saints Great Turns to Ownership

Marques Colston discusses his Champions Fund launch and finding success after football.
North Carolina Tar Heels guard Seth Trimble (7) drives to the basket Thursday, March 19, 2026, during the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament first round game against the VCU Rams at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina.
August 12, 2026

Athletes Capitalizing As NCAA Fights to Overturn New Eligibility Ruling

An appeals court will consider whether to pause the initial ruling.
Mar 21, 2026; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) reacts after a play against the Los Angeles Lakers in the fourth quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
August 11, 2026

Desmond Bane Wants College Basketball to Add a Salary Cap

Bane is TCU’s chief basketball officer.
Inside NCAA Headquarters located in Indianapolis on Friday, March 10, 2023. Ncaa President Charlie Baker
August 11, 2026

NCAA Loses First Appeal of Class of 2022 Eligibility Injunction

The NCAA lost its first battle to get the ruling overturned.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) talks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 6, 2026.
August 7, 2026

College Sports Bill Faces Steep Hurdles Before August Recess

The Congressional Black Caucus said it would not support the bill.