The Bruins were one of the very few interested.
From the west coast to Rocky Top, and now back to the west coast — Nico Iamaleava is reportedly going to be a Bruin. The reports come from radio host Colin Cowherd and The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.
The terms of the deal have not been disclosed. Notably, Iamaleava entered the portal with a do-not-contact tag this morning, so these reports make a lot of sense.
SOURCE: Former Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava is expected to transfer to UCLA. https://t.co/Eq4ZuSwSPy
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) April 16, 2025
From the beginning of this mess, UCLA was one of the few P4 teams that made any sense at all. A homecoming for Nico fills a need for UCLA, despite the Bruins already bringing in Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar earlier this offseason.
The reported commitment ends a saga that started way back in December, when the Iamaleava camp reported shopped Nico around to schools around the country. Iamaleava proceeded to go through spring ball until the final practice, where he no-show’d. That came in the midst of reporting that stated his side way looking for a new NIL deal worth up to $4 million. It’s widely expected that Nico will take a pay-cut from his initial contract worth over $2 million per season in Knoxville with the Volunteers.
The Iamaleava side now claims that this was never about money, but it was simply about Josh Heupel’s offense.
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
Quite the spin cycle there.
Nico’s father and family friend, who was acting as his agent, greatly overestimated their value here. Schools like Oregon, USC, Notre Dame, Texas Tech, North Carolina and Tulane quickly got word out that they were not interested in the former five-star prospect.
UCLA, who was spurned by Nico’s little brother Madden just four months ago during the early signing period, seemed like the only serious taker. The Bruins went 5-7 in head coach DeShaun Foster’s first season.
Tennessee is left with the inexperienced Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre on the roster. It’s obvious that Josh Heupel must add something to that room here with the transfer portal now open, but it remains to be seen who gets involved.
Josh Hoover has already announced his return to TCU after Tennessee began sniffing around. Expect more names to emerge quickly here with just months to learn Heupel’s offensive system.