Early indicators of the Nico Iamaleava impact have been evident to DeShaun Foster because the UCLA coach scanned the group of seven reporters standing earlier than him, greater than twice the same old quantity.
“When was the last time we had this many people here talking to us, you know what I’m saying?” Foster mentioned Tuesday morning. “So this is a good buzz for us.”
Foster has his quarterback, and now he’s beginning to benefit from the perks.
Largely an afterthought slightly greater than every week in the past, the Bruins are actually the discuss of the school soccer world after touchdown the quarterback from Tennessee who was broadly considered the highest participant within the switch portal after main the Volunteers to the School Soccer Playoff as a redshirt freshman.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava reveals his Citrus Bowl MVP belt to teammates after defeating Iowa on Jan. 1, 2024, in Orlando, Fla.
(John Raoux / Related Press)
Calling the addition of Iamaleava “just something that we couldn’t pass up,” Foster mentioned it didn’t necessitate utilizing identify, picture and likeness funds earmarked for quarterback Joey Aguilar, who’s now headed to Tennessee as half of what’s being jokingly known as a commerce between the Bruins and Volunteers.
“If he wanted to stay and compete,” Foster mentioned of Aguilar, “that was fine.”
Requested to characterize UCLA’s NIL bundle for Iamaleava, who was reportedly asking Tennessee for greater than the $2 million-plus he was set to make with the Volunteers subsequent season, Foster would solely say that it was “a success.”
“I don’t know what he was looking for or whatnot,” Foster mentioned of the Lengthy Seashore native who starred at Warren Downey Excessive. “I know that he accepted our contract and he wants to be a Bruin, so that’s all I’m focused on.”
It seems to be a bundle deal on condition that Iamaleava’s youthful brother, Madden, is anticipated to affix Nico in Westwood after getting into the switch portal. Additionally a quarterback, Madden had dedicated to UCLA out of Lengthy Seashore Poly earlier than signing with Arkansas in December. Foster mentioned there was no smoothing over of the state of affairs wanted earlier than Nico agreed to turn out to be a Bruin however couldn’t touch upon the potential addition of any gamers from the switch portal.
There had been hypothesis that the arrival of Madden Iamaleava because the inheritor obvious to his older brother may immediate UCLA freshman quarterback Robert McDaniel to enter the switch portal, however Foster mentioned McDaniel was at apply Tuesday and had not knowledgeable the teaching employees of a potential departure.
Provided that Nico Iamaleava can’t be part of the workforce earlier than enrolling for summer time lessons, the Bruins will full their closing spring practices with out the quarterback who will virtually absolutely take the primary snap within the season opener towards Utah on Aug. 30 on the Rose Bowl. If nothing else, McDaniel and fellow quarterbacks Demarcus Davis, Luke Duncan, Henry Hasselbeck, Nick Billoups and Colton Gumino could have alternatives in the course of the subsequent two weeks to make their case to be the highest backup.
Foster mentioned he was not involved that lacking spring apply would hinder Iamaleava’s skill to shortly be taught new offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri’s system.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava rolls away from a defender and appears to cross throughout a School Soccer Playoff sport towards Ohio State on Dec. 21 in Columbus, Ohio.
(Jay LaPrete / Related Press)
“I don’t think it will hurt him at all,” Foster mentioned, noting Sunseri’s current success working with quarterbacks for just one season, together with Kurtis Rourke at Indiana. “You know, it’s pretty cool that these other guys are going to be able to get some more reps so we can really see who can get out there and potentially compete for the starting position.”
After acknowledging that some gamers know their vacation spot earlier than getting into the switch portal, Foster mentioned “this wasn’t one of those” conditions. As soon as Iamaleava entered the switch portal, Foster mentioned his employees may shortly consider the quarterback’s potential due to its familiarity with him as a highschool prospect.
Whereas some have characterised this transfer as distasteful as a result of it quantities to changing one switch with one other earlier than the primary switch took one snap with the workforce, Foster mentioned he didn’t assume he wanted to examine together with his gamers concerning the potential affect of touchdown Iamaleava as a result of he possessed “a pretty good feel of what the culture is down there with them.” A number of gamers on the workforce already knew Iamaleava from having performed with or towards him beforehand, Foster mentioned, their help for the transfer evident in welcoming messages on social media after their new quarterback introduced his dedication.
In addition to, Foster mentioned, securing prime expertise has at all times been on the root of profitable groups.
“Every year I was here as a running back, they recruited more running backs to come here, you know?” Foster mentioned, referring to his time as a star operating again for the Bruins. “So, this is a competition sport — for coaches, players, everybody. So you gotta, you just gotta want to get out there and compete.”
What are the Bruins getting in Iamaleava, who accomplished 63.8% of his passes final season for two,616 yards and 19 touchdowns with 5 interceptions?
“6-6, you know, this is a big guy,” Foster mentioned, alluding to Iamaleava standing 6 foot 6 and weighing 215 kilos. “A true competitor. Fiery. Big arm. And then, it’s gonna — keeping the California kids and L.A. kids here, you know? This is a big thing.”
Foster mentioned Iamaleava’s want to come back dwelling and play nearer to household was a part of the explanation for his transfer. He may additionally really feel the embrace of bigger-than-usual crowds on the Rose Bowl given {that a} UCLA athletic division spokesperson mentioned there had been a constructive response from season ticket-holders and an uptick in new inquiries for tickets within the wake of Iamaleava’s arrival.
The thrill may simply be starting to construct.
“You want to be in conversations, you want to play big-time ball, you want to have haters, you want all of this stuff,” Foster mentioned, “because that means that you’re trending in the right direction. So, if you want to play big-time ball, you can do that here at UCLA. I got a quarterback situation that’s gonna pan out for us.”
