Nico Iamaleava has announced his departure from Tennessee University and will be joining the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The quarterback, who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, cited a desire for “God’s timing” as he made the decision. Iamaleava was a highly touted recruit, earning a $2.4 million contract at age 17 and finishing his first season with 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel had previously announced that the program would move forward without Iamaleava after he missed practice and meetings in April. Despite this, Iamaleava remained on the team but was eventually told he could transfer. The transfer portal has been a significant factor in recent recruiting disputes, with Iamaleava joining an already crowded field of notable departures.
Iamaleava’s arrival at UCLA marks a significant boost for the Bruins’ offense, which finished 14th in scoring and 12th in total offense last season. His brother Madden had previously committed to UCLA but changed his mind and signed with Arkansas. With Iamaleava on board, the Bruins are now heavily favored to make a significant push in the coming seasons.
The transfer move comes as no surprise given the growing trend of quarterback transfers in college football. The highly ranked prospect is expected to bring substantial experience and talent to UCLA’s program, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in Bruin history.
Source: https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/44770943/former-tennessee-qb-nico-iamaleava-transferring-ucla