UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava has plenty of experience with the good, the bad, and the ugly of NIL.

Iamaleava became the poster boy for NIL when he agreed to a multi-year deal worth around $8 million to sign with the Tennessee Vols.

The former five-star recruit helped Tennessee get to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman in 2024, but his relationship with the Vols soured the following spring. Iamaleava ended up transferring to UCLA after a reported NIL dispute essentially drove a wedge between him and Tennessee.

I’ve always been of the opinion that Iamaleava is a good kid who ended up in a situation that wasn’t handled correctly by all sides. His story received more attention than most, but he’s far from the only player to go through this type of situation.

Ultimately, Iamaleava, a California native, ended up closer to home and he seems like he’s in a good place after a tough 2025 season.

Last week at Big Ten Media Days, Iamaleava was asked what kind of advice he’d give to young players about NIL.

And he had some solid advice to offer.

“Go where you’re loved,” said Iamaleava. “That’s the main thing. As long as you have a plan for that next level — which the NFL is always the end goal. Short-term money…remember what you’re doing this for. That’s the main thing I would say.”

I’m sure there will be fans who have something negative to say about Iamaleava’s advice, and I’m not saying he handled everything perfectly at Tennessee (not showing up for practice and going radio silent after the On3 report was a mistake). But the advice he offered is wise. And most wisdom in life, after all, comes from making some mistakes along the way.

I’d also point out that a lot of folks thought Iamaleava would bolt from UCLA after one season in search of a bigger payday. And he didn’t. He announced he was staying at UCLA for the 2026 season weeks before the transfer portal opened, so it seems he listened to his own advice.