Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to transfer to the UCLA football program, although an official announcement has yet to be made. Iamaleava, one of the top quarterback recruits in the country just a few years ago, appears poised for a fresh start after a somewhat rocky end to his time in Knoxville.
Money reportedly played a significant role in Iamaleava’s decision to leave Tennessee. According to ESPN’s Chris Low, Iamaleava was seeking at least $4 million to remain with the Volunteers. At Tennessee, he was earning $2.4 million under the NIL agreement he signed while still in high school, and projections indicated he could have made close to $10 million over a full four-year college career. Despite those numbers, Low reports that the offer from UCLA is “not remotely close” to the amount he wanted from Tennessee, suggesting that other factors, perhaps being closer to home, are also influencing his decision.
Coming out of high school, Iamaleava was regarded as one of the most electrifying quarterback prospects in the nation, a five-star recruit with sky-high expectations. His time at Tennessee started strong as he helped guide the Vols to the College Football Playoff, throwing 19 touchdowns against just five interceptions. However, he struggled in SEC play and had a rough outing against Ohio State in the playoff, casting some doubt on his readiness to dominate at the college level.
If the move to UCLA does become official, the Bruins would be getting a highly talented quarterback who still has significant upside. However, he will need to make noticeable improvements to reach his full potential. Adjusting to a new offensive system — different from Josh Heupel’s fast-paced attack at Tennessee — could present an initial challenge, and UCLA’s roster, now competing in the Big Ten, is seen as a work in progress. That could leave Iamaleava playing with less surrounding talent than he was accustomed to at Tennessee, especially in physical matchups against some of the Big Ten’s traditional powerhouses.
For Iamaleava, this move would also be something of a homecoming. A Long Beach, California native, he was heavily recruited by UCLA out of high school before ultimately choosing Tennessee. Meanwhile, his younger brother Madden had been committed to UCLA before flipping to Arkansas late in the recruiting process. All eyes are now on Iamaleava’s next steps, but if everything falls into place, he could have a chance to reboot his career and remind everyone why he was once considered one of the best quarterback prospects in the country.
