UCLA Bruins starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit who started his career with the Tennessee Vols, inadvertently revealed earlier this spring that he plans to go to the NFL after the 2026 season.

Iamaleava will be a redshirt junior for the Bruins this fall, so he would be eligible to return in 2027.

Coming out of high school, the feeling was that Iamaleava would be a first round pick in 2026 or 2027. But Iamaleava’s departure from Tennessee kind of reset the post-college expectations for the California native (it didn’t help that Iamaleava landed in a tough situation at UCLA).

CBS Sports details how NFL teams view Nico Iamaleava

A recent report from CBS Sports indicates that some NFL teams still view the former Vol as a player who will be selected in the first few rounds of the 2027 NFL Draft.

“While his numbers from last season weren’t anything special, there were enough flashes from Nico Iamaleava that there are at least some in the NFL personnel space — based on recent feedback shared with CBS Sports — that still consider the former Tennessee transfer as a possibility to go in the first few rounds of next year’s draft,” reported CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer this week.

The report from CBS Sports lines up with what longtime NFL draft analyst Todd McShay said this month.

“Nico Iamaleava from UCLA,” said McShay while pointing out potential quarterbacks who could be drafted in 2027. “I get it — the Tennessee debacle, he transfers, all the problems, the money, this and that. And last year, [he] was up and down. I promise you, teams are keeping a close [eye on Iamaleava]. I told you this in October last year, the NFL’s view of Iamaleava is different than the public perception.”

If you’ve been following college football and the NFL draft for more than a couple of years, you’re likely very aware that the draft boards in May won’t look anything like the ones we see next January — a lot will change based on what happens during the 2026 college football season.

Iamaleava’s talent, though, is undeniable (that’s why Tennessee was so aggressive when pursuing him as a high school recruit). It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Iamaleava works his way into the first round conversation this fall.