UCLA Bruins QB Nico Iamaleava leaves no doubts about his plans for after the 2025 college football season
UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava is entering his third collegiate season after spending his first two years with the Tennessee Vols. Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit, transferred to UCLA earlier this spring. The California native had a solid, though not spectacular, 2024 season with the Volunteers. Iamaleava passed for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five […]
UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava is entering his third collegiate season after spending his first two years with the Tennessee Vols.
Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit, transferred to UCLA earlier this spring.
The California native had a solid, though not spectacular, 2024 season with the Volunteers. Iamaleava passed for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions while leading Tennessee to an appearance in the College Football Playoff (Iamaleava also rushed for 358 yards and three touchdowns last season).
When Iamaleava first arrived in Knoxville in late 2022 as a hyped five-star quarterback, the speculation was that he’d only spend three seasons in college before heading to the NFL.
Iamaleava, however, isn’t currently viewed as a top prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft by most media outlets. But that could easily change with a big season in 2025.
And that’s exactly what Iamaleava is planning to make happen.
The former Vol told reporters at Big 10 Media Days last week that he’s hoping to be one-and-done with the Bruins before entering the NFL Draft.
“This is a year where I'm really trying to get out after,” said Iamaleava. “So, I’m gonna give my all to UCLA. And if I have the year I want, I want to get out.”
Before Iamaelava entered the NCAA transfer portal, the expectation was that former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar would serve as the Bruins' starting quarterback in 2025. Iamaleava's arrival at UCLA, though, led to Aguilar transferring to Tennessee.
Interestingly, Aguilar's parents felt like part of the reason UCLA chose to pursue Iamaleava is because the former Vol has three seasons of eligibility remaining (Aguilar had just one season of eligibility remaining).
“They’re building, and Nico’s a three-year guy and Joey’s a one-year guy. We get it," said Aguilar's father Jose to The Athletic last week.
It turns out that Aguilar and Iamaleava could both be one-and-done at their new programs.
