The drama surrounding former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has come to an end, with the 20-year-old heading back to his home state of California to transfer to UCLA.
UCLA’s quarterbacks room was notified of Iamaleava’s impending transfer on April 20, per ESPN.
The news comes just over a week after Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel announced that the program was “moving on” from Iamaleava. It was previously reported by Bruce Feldman and FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd that he was expected to join the Bruins.
With Iamaleava heading to Los Angeles, UCLA QB Joey Aguilar has been “gauging interest with other schools,” ESPN reported. Aguilar transferred to UCLA from Appalachian State earlier in the offseason after being named second-team All-Sun Belt in 2023.
Iamaleava’s transfer comes on the heels of his contentious departure from Tennessee. Iamaleava reportedly requested to be paid $2 million more for his preexisting name, image and likeness (NIL) deal. Iamaleava grew up in Long Beach, California, which is located roughly one hour south of UCLA’s campus.
[MORE: Joel Klatt: No villain in the Nico Iamaleava saga, but everyone should be careful]
Iamaleava committed to Tennessee in 2022 as a five-star recruit with an NIL package rumored to be between $8 and $9 million. After starting just one game in 2023, he became the team’s full-time starter for the 2024 college football season.
Last season, Iamaleava totaled 2,616 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and a 145.3 passer rating, while completing 63.8% of his passes. He also rushed for 358 yards and three touchdowns.
Iamaleava and the Volunteers finished 2024 with a 10-3 record and made the expanded College Football Playoff. The end of the line came with a first-round drubbing at the hands of eventual national champion Ohio State.
Iamaleava joins a UCLA program that’s coming off a 5-7 season, its first in the Big Ten and first under head coach and former school running back DeShaun Foster.
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