Faculty soccer’s highest-profile switch is coming residence.
After a falling out with Tennessee, Nico Iamaleava has agreed to play for UCLA subsequent season in a transfer that can generate vital buzz for the Bruins after they added a quarterback who took his earlier crew to the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
However the nature of Iamaleava’s departure, which reportedly concerned a want for extra title, picture and likeness cash from the Volunteers at a time when most groups had lined up a beginning quarterback for subsequent season, may make Iamaleava a polarizing determine earlier than he units foot on his new campus.
Iamaleava introduced his dedication to the Bruins on his Instagram account Sunday, ending greater than per week of hypothesis about his future.
“My journey at UT has come to an end,” Iamaleava’s submit learn. “This decision was incredibly difficult, and truthfully, not something I expected to make this soon. But I trust God’s timing, and I believe He’s leading me where I need to be.
“Even though, this chapter is ending, a new chapter has begun and I am committed to UCLA!”
It was not instantly clear how a lot Iamaleava, a Lengthy Seashore native whose preliminary school deal reportedly was set to pay him greater than $2 million to pay for Tennessee subsequent season, agreed to just accept from the Bruins as a part of his transfer again to Southern California. An unnamed good friend of Iamaleava’s household informed Entrance Workplace Sports activities that the dissatisfaction with the Volunteers centered on the necessity to bolster the offensive line and receiving corps, not a requirement for extra compensation.
UCLA appeared to have substantial leverage in negotiations given that the majority groups had dedicated to a beginning quarterback for subsequent season, considerably decreasing demand for a high-priced switch. Additional limiting Iamaleava’s choices, he couldn’t have gone to a different Southeastern Convention college with out sitting out a season as a part of convention guidelines related to getting into the switch portal within the spring.
The redshirt sophomore may have three seasons of remaining eligibility. Shifting from a CFP participant to a crew that hasn’t received a convention championship in additional than 1 / 4 of a century presents some threat for Iamaleava in his bid to win on the highest degree of school soccer earlier than transferring on to the NFL. He’ll must study a brand new offense comparatively rapidly after presumably lacking the remainder of spring follow and becoming a member of the crew upon his enrollment this summer time.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, left, is tackled by Florida edge rusher George Gumbs Jr., backside, and linebacker Jaden Robinson throughout an NCAA school soccer recreation in October.
(Wade Payne / Related Press)
The addition of Iamaleava leaves unsure the way forward for Joey Aguilar, who spent the primary three weeks of spring follow as UCLA’s presumed beginning quarterback subsequent season after placing up prolific numbers at Appalachian State. Iamaleava’s arrival may nudge Aguilar again into the switch portal contemplating he solely has yet one more season of eligibility left.
Aguilar didn’t let hypothesis about Iamaleava instantly alter his plans; he participated within the Bruins’ “Friday Night Lights” occasion as if nothing had modified about his preparation for subsequent season.
The Bruins practically added Nico’s youthful brother, Madden, to their roster on signing day in December earlier than the Lengthy Seashore Poly Excessive quarterback and teammate Jace Brown backed out of their verbal commitments and signed with Arkansas. Nico’s choice to affix the Bruins alerts that no matter onerous emotions emerged from his brother’s scenario have been smoothed over between the crew and the Iamaleava household.
UCLA had one robust ally in its pursuit of Nico Iamaleava as a result of Stacey Ford, the crew’s director of participant personnel, was on the teaching employees at Warren Excessive when the quarterback emerged as a star throughout the 2021 season. Iamaleava later reportedly signed a four-year, $8-million title, picture and likeness contract with Spyre Sports activities Group, Tennessee’s title, picture and likeness collective, with a six-figure fee whereas he was nonetheless in highschool.
After taking part in sparingly in his first school season, the 6-foot-6, 215-pounder starred throughout a 2024 season by which he led the Volunteers to the playoff earlier than they misplaced to eventual nationwide champion Ohio State within the first spherical. Iamaleava accomplished 63.8% of his passes for two,616 yards with 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, although critics identified that eight of these touchdowns got here in opposition to evenly regarded Texas El Paso and Vanderbilt.
As a part of a messy cut up with Tennessee that angered Volunteers followers, Iamaleava left earlier than the crew’s spring recreation. Acknowledging that he was transferring on, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed reporters that “there’s nobody bigger than the ‘Power T.”
Iamaleava’s likelihood to win over a brand new fan base begins in a number of months. UCLA will open the season in opposition to Utah on Aug. 30 on the Rose Bowl, its quarterback vying to change into the native hero the Bruins have lengthy wanted to reclaim long-lost glory.
