LOS ANGELES -- UCLA Football appears to have found its quarterback for the 2025 season as multiple reports indicated the former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is transferring to the Bruins.
Bruce Feldman and David Ubben of The Athletic first reported the news. Colin Cowherd, later on X, confirmed that Iamaleava would indeed be enrolling in school in Brentwood.
I am told — moments ago — Nico Iamaleava is going to UCLA. Family still claims it’s NOT about the 💰It’s about the @Vol_Football offense. I was not told what the Bruins are paying.
— Colin Cowherd (@colincowherd) April 16, 2025
While the spring transfer portal did not officially open until today, Iamaleavea missed practice on Wednesday of last week just ahead of the Volunteers' spring football game played this past Saturday. Iamaleava was not present at the spring game, and Tennessee coach Josh Heupel told reporters that "no one is bigger than the program."
After growing up in Long Beach and attending Warren High School in Downey, Iamaleava will return back home to Southern California after spending the last two seasons with Tennessee.
Spending his first two seasons with the Volunteers, Iamaleava waited for his turn to take over the reigns at quarterback, sitting as a backup behind Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton. In his first season as the full-time starter, he threw 2,616 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions while completing 63.8% of his passes.
Before college, he was regarded as one of the top young quarterbacks in the country, ranking second in the country behind Arch Manning.