Nico Iamaleava is apparently heading to a very logical destination after transferring from Tennessee
It seems as though former Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava has found his new football home, and it's somewhere that's close to home for the former five-star recruit. Literally. Per The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and David Ubben, Iamaleava is expected to transfer to UCLA. The report did not list an NIL amount, although it acknowledged […]
It seems as though former Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava has found his new football home, and it's somewhere that's close to home for the former five-star recruit. Literally.
Per The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and David Ubben, Iamaleava is expected to transfer to UCLA.
The report did not list an NIL amount, although it acknowledged the previous amount that Iamaleava and his representatives were seeking from Tennessee in the amount of $4 million.
The move would be a return back home for Iamaleava, where he played in the Los Angeles area for Warren High School (Downey, CA) and Long Beach Poly.
Since the news broke late last week that Iamaleava had skipped practice during an NIL dispute with Tennessee, which facilitated his split with the team shortly thereafter, UCLA had been a rumored destination for him, largely because of both proximity and opportunity.
Ironically enough, UCLA took a swing and miss on another Iamaleava quarterback back in December with Nico's brother, Madden. However, in a signing day shocker, Madden signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks. Now, it seems the Bruins secured their Iamaleava under center – and surely not the one fans would have expected months ago.
The possibilities elsewhere for Nico also appeared significantly limited, as per ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel Wednesday on the Pat McAfee Show.
It remains to be seen if Iamaleava's asking price was anywhere close to being met by the Bruins – or indeed if the well had dried up as far as outside opportunities for the former Tennessee signal caller.
However, what appears sure now is that whatever tiny sliver of an opening for a return by Nico to the Vols by the most cockeyed of optimists has been firmly slammed shut.
‘Tennessee saw the same thing, and that’s why he is no longer on the roster’ — Paul Finebaum argues factor as to why Nico Iamaleava was allowed to leave
The ex-Vols QB has been a lightning rod of national controversy
