Nelson receiver Malachi Garlington had 50 catches for 914 yards last season for a 6A semifinal team. (Photo by Ryan Fanger)

A breakout junior football season opened plenty of doors for Nelson receiver Malachi Garlington.

But as more than a dozen college scholarship offers poured in, Garlington held out hope that one school, in particular, would come calling.

Finally, the University of Oregon extended an offer in early June. Garlington accepted, four days after his initial pledge to Washington State.

“I grew up watching Oregon games with my grandma,” Garlington said. “It means a lot. It was my dream school. It was a surreal moment getting the offer. And now that I'm committed there, it's just crazy.”

The 6-foot-3, 180-pound Garlington has steadily risen as a prospect. A three-star recruit, 247Sports ranks him as the No. 199 receiver in the country and the No. 1,545 prospect for all positions, including No. 5 in Oregon.

He flashed intriguing potential as a junior in helping lead the Hawks to the 6A semifinals. He caught 50 passes for 914 yards and ranked second in 6A with 19 touchdown catches.

“He's always been very talented, very athletic, but his work ethic and commitment to doing the little things has really, really taken off since midway through his sophomore year,” Nelson coach Aaron Hazel said. “We had a little talk, 'You have the chance to be special, or you can be like every other talented high school football player.' He kind of made the decision that he wanted to be special.”

Garlington is from Happy Valley but spent his freshman year at Central Catholic. He opted to transfer to Nelson as a sophomore.

“I missed my friends a little bit,” said Garlington, also a standout basketball player. “When I decided to transfer, it was like, 'We'll see how it goes at Nelson.'”

During the summer before his sophomore year, Garlington began to dedicate himself to football.

“In summer football, I was just enjoying it way more that I usually did,” he said. “My love for it was just there. I realized that I loved it, and I got the work ethic. Those two combined will just get me where I want to go.”

Garlington contributed as a sophomore but had a secondary role behind senior Noah Boria. When Garlington got a chance to be a go-to receiver last season, he shined.

“I'd say I had it in me my sophomore year, I just wasn't getting the looks I needed,” he said. “But I think it was all within due time. So my junior year, when I had that big role, and I was going to be that guy, I was ready for it.”

He not only is big and physical, but he has proven elusive in the open field.

“He's got a burst,” Hazel said. “He has that next-level gear that few people have. It showed up on film. Every time coaches commented, they'd say that he's got that gear that they're all looking for at the Division I level. That's what sets him apart from a thousand other 6-2, 175-pound really good receivers out there.”

Garlington said he grew up idolizing Odell Beckham Jr. for his pass-catching ability but now is more enamored with the precise route running of Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown. Once he gets the ball, he is a handful to tackle.

“One thing that sticks out in my game is my yards after the catch,” Garlington said. “I'm really good at getting the ball and getting up field vertical and taking it for six. That's how you win games, scoring touchdowns.”

He has a knack for shedding tacklers.

“He's got good shoulders on him, good mass,” Hazel said. “He's not going down by the first guy. He's kind of got a little wiggle to him, as well. He doesn't slow down to change direction.”

Garlington has significantly improved his speed. In track, he lowered his personal-best in the 100 meters from 11.74 seconds as a sophomore to 11.17 as a junior. He was clocked at 4.5 in the 40 at a recent combine.

He also has the athleticism to go up and get the ball.

“You watch him in basketball and he plays above the rim,” Hazel said. “His body control is elite.”