As UCLA gamers and coaches milled about on the sphere a half hour earlier than the group’s spring showcase on the Rose Bowl, the current met the long run.
Nico Iamaleava and his youthful brother, Madden, emerged from a tunnel in a single nook of the tip zone.
The transfers who may instantly grow to be the group’s high two quarterbacks as soon as they enroll this summer time exchanged hugs with their new coaches Saturday afternoon earlier than watching the ultimate follow of spring.
“It just feels good because you know you’re around somebody that you can tell he has presence,” UCLA coach DeShaun Foster stated of visiting with Nico Iamaleava, the newcomer from Tennessee. “He kind of commands attention being [6 feet 6], he’s a huge guy and he’s not somebody that’s just seeking that attention but he just kind of has a poise to him that … it’s just comforting.”
Nico Iamaleava brings some a lot wanted cachet to the Bruins after main the Volunteers to the Faculty Soccer Playoff in his redshirt freshman season. Madden is returning after executing a double flip — the Lengthy Seaside Poly Excessive graduate switched his allegiance from UCLA to Arkansas on signing day, solely to alter it again not too long ago via the switch portal. Foster can’t touch upon the youthful Iamaleava till he’s formally signed with the group, which is taken into account a formality.
Madden may very well be his brother’s high backup subsequent season, although he is likely to be pushed by Luke Duncan contemplating the best way Duncan continued to point out mastery of the offense as a part of a gaggle of quarterbacks that thinned from seven at first of spring to 4 by the tip.
“Each day, you could tell he was getting better, getting more comfortable,” Foster stated of Duncan. “There was a lot of outside noise and he was still finding ways to focus on exactly what he needed to focus on, and that was just improving his play. So I commend Luke for the way he approached this whole spring and then coming to this stadium and having a good practice.”
Madden Iamaleava, left, and Nico Iamaleava, middle, watch from the sideline in the course of the UCLA spring showcase.
(Carlin Stiehl / For The Occasions)
Duncan took first- and second-team repetitions Saturday as a part of a surreal scene through which fellow quarterback Nick Billoups additionally participated regardless of being within the switch portal. That standing additionally utilized to edge rusher Jacob Busic, who made a cease on a ballcarrier regardless of additionally being within the switch portal and never listed on the roster that was distributed earlier than the showcase.
In the meantime, the participant who would be the Bruins’ beginning quarterback of their season opener watched from the sideline whereas the participant he’s changing, Joey Aguilar, continues to be taking lessons at UCLA on his technique to taking Iamaleava’s place at Tennessee.
It’s all a part of the weird nature of faculty soccer in 2025.
“It’s just where college football is at,” stated linebacker Isaiah Chisom, himself a product of the switch portal after not too long ago arriving from Oregon State, “and what I always tell people [is], everybody has to do what’s best for them, whatever that really looks like, and we don’t know the real stories behind what’s actually making people make these type of decisions, so I’m not mad at anybody for going or coming.”
Offensive lineman Julian Armella, a switch from Florida State who initiatives to begin at proper guard, stated he was capable of communicate with Nico Iamaleava throughout a campus go to a number of weeks in the past and was keen so as to add him to the group.
“At the end of the day, I know that UCLA and all of this fan base is excited to have him,” Armella stated, “so I know that once he gets up here we’re going to be able to roll.”
UCLA offensive line coach Andy Kwon directs gamers throughout drills on the Bruins’ spring showcase on the Rose Bowl on Saturday.
(Carlin Stiehl / For The Occasions)
Foster stated as soon as Nico Iamaleava completes his ultimate semester at Tennessee this month, he’ll be capable to begin corresponding on-line with coaches as a part of a transition that is likely to be simpler than it appears.
“When you’re switching teams, it’s not the hardest thing to do,” Foster stated. “It’s mostly just figuring out what we call something that they already call, so it’s not like we have to teach him a whole new playbook, it’s more of him figuring out the calls and what we call something he already had. Him being an intelligent kid, has a high GPA, smart on and off the field, we’re just looking forward to getting the opportunity to teach him.”
Given the best way a number of transfers have come collectively rapidly this spring, Armella stated, he anticipated Nico Iamaleava having a equally clean transition.
“Our coaching staff has done a great job of getting guys like me and these other transfers up to par and up to speed,” Armella stated, “so I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll be able to come in here and be able to fit into the system. He’s going to be new here, but at the end of the day he’ll be able to get it done.”
The following time Nico Iamaleava walks out of the Rose Bowl tunnel, it is going to be for his UCLA debut towards Utah on Aug. 30, all eyes targeted on the brand new quarterback.
“It’s gonna be a good season and — what do they say, get your popcorn ready?” Foster stated. “So you get your popcorn ready.”
