LAS VEGAS — Sporting horn-rimmed glasses, a lightweight blue go well with with a UCLA lapel pin and tan wingtips, Nico Iamaleava settled into his seat on an elevated platform in entrance of about 30 reporters.
“How’s everybody doing?” the brand new Bruins quarterback requested casually contained in the conference heart corridor late Thursday afternoon, giving no trace that this was probably the most strain he had confronted since an attacking Ohio State protection sacked him 4 instances within the opening spherical of the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
These reporters have been virtually as relentless. For greater than 25 minutes through the remaining Huge Ten media day, they peppered Iamaleava with questions on his resolution to depart Tennessee on the eve of its spring recreation for a program with a lesser pedigree, prompting UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar to take Iamaleava’s spot in what basically amounted to a school soccer commerce.
What was Iamaleava’s motivation in making his transfer? Was his dissatisfaction with Tennessee’s title, picture and likeness package deal an element? Did he must take a pay minimize to return to UCLA? What was it like coping with the fallout from jilted Tennessee followers?
Whereas failing to supply many specifics, Iamaleava patiently engaged each query, the Southern California native saying he was pushed by a want to play for a high program nearer to his household in Lengthy Seaside.
“Ultimately,” the 6-foot-6 quarterback had instructed a small group of Los Angeles-based reporters earlier within the afternoon, “it came down to me wanting to be back home, you know, be back home next to my family while still competing at the highest level.”
In an unique interview with native media, Nico Iamaleava mentioned he’s “never been pushed like this by a staff before,” in response to my query about his greatest moments at #UCLA up to now. pic.twitter.com/ZEFITAg0Or
— Ira Gorawara (@IraGorawara) July 25, 2025
Iamaleava pinned the timing of his departure from Tennessee on “false reports” about monetary calls for that “made me not feel comfortable in the position I was in. But, you know, in the back of my head, I always wanted to come back home and be closer to my mom, be closer to my dad.” Tennessee was reportedly set to pay Iamaleava greater than $2 million to play for the Volunteers this season.
Declining to debate his new NIL deal at UCLA, Iamaleava mentioned he was targeted on soccer and lecturers whereas making an attempt to revive a program that has not gained a convention championship since 1998.
“The realistic expectation for us,” Iamaleava mentioned, “is to bring championships back to Westwood, and, you know, the first day I stepped into the locker room, I felt that from every guy in there, that they’ve got a chip on their shoulder and that they want to go out there and prove people wrong.”
Iamaleava must do it sporting a brand new quantity after makes an attempt to get his most popular No. 8 — retired in honor of Troy Aikman — failed, leaving him with No. 9. He mentioned he’ll proudly put on the quantity to characterize his seven siblings and two mother and father whom he credited for his humble nature.
A kind of siblings is now a teammate. Freshman quarterback Madden Iamaleava, who verbally dedicated to UCLA earlier than signing with Arkansas, flipped his allegiance again to the Bruins within the spring after his older brother determined to return dwelling. Relying on how he fares in coaching camp, Madden may develop into Nico’s high backup.
“I think he’s ready, man,” Nico mentioned of his sibling. “My little brother was a bonus from me, you know, for him to come home with me. And just being a helping hand to him in anything he needs, I think, was the biggest thing for me.”
If the whole lot goes as deliberate, Nico acknowledged, his keep at UCLA will likely be a brief one. Ought to the Bruins win a whole lot of video games and Iamaleava additional set up himself as a high NFL prospect, the redshirt sophomore will transfer on after this remaining faculty season.
“This is a year where, you know, I’m really trying to get out after,” Iamaleava mentioned. “So, you know, I’m going to give my all to UCLA, and, you know, if I have the year I want, you know, I want to get out.”
Every part about Iamaleava’s keep might need an accelerated really feel. He mentioned he acquired the offensive playbook after signing in April and has participated in player-run practices since arriving on campus in June, shortly impressing his new teammates with not simply his expertise but additionally his savvy.
“He’s good at looking off people,” linebacker JonJon Vaughns mentioned of Iamaleava’s potential to deceive a protection, “and his arm is big, it’s powerful.”
There will likely be no easing right into a coaching camp that begins subsequent Wednesday in Costa Mesa on condition that UCLA opens the season precisely one month later in opposition to Utah on Aug. 30 on the Rose Bowl. The energy workers has already supplied Iamaleava a sign of the excessive expectations he’ll face on the sphere.
“I’ve never been pushed like this by a staff before,” Iamaleava mentioned, “so I’m excited to go to work for these guys.”
Calling it “a fun challenge,” Iamaleava mentioned he was making an attempt to shortly soak up a pro-style offense that he described as “a little more condensed formations” than what he ran at Tennessee. The prospect to play for offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri, who has a historical past of instant success with new quarterbacks, has invigorated Iamaleava.
“He’s a high-energy guy,” Iamaleava mentioned of Sunseri, “and I wanted to go play for him the first day I met him.”
Praising his complete vast receiving corps, Iamaleava mentioned he had already developed good chemistry with Kwazi Gilmer, Mikey Matthews, Ezavier Staples and Titus Mokiao-Atimalala. He’s gotten to know the offensive linemen by means of a bowling outing that additionally included the quarterbacks.
“He’s a great person,” proper sort out Garrett DiGiorgio mentioned. “He’s got a good heart, and he really cares.”
Not at all times. Iamaleava mentioned he tuned out social media throughout his departure from Tennessee, shielding himself from the vitriol. He discovered solace in video video games akin to NBA 2K25 and UFC.
“I was playing a lot of video games with my friends and my cousins, man, and, you know, really paid no mind to it,” he mentioned. “Sometimes I had no idea [what was happening]; my cousins would come and tell me about stuff they would see and I was like, ‘I don’t care.’ So, you know, I think a lot of that just comes with, you know, protecting your peace.”
Later, as he rose from the platform and thanked reporters, Iamaleava appeared totally zen. After all of the hypothesis about his future, he’ll have the ultimate say on the sphere.
