Before the last transfer portal in spring, Nico Iamaleava’s camp tried to renegotiate his NIL deal with the Tennessee Volunteers. The quarterback, who was getting paid $2 million in NIL money, wanted to raise the offering to $4 million.
The negotiations didn’t go well, and shortly after, Iamaleava didn’t attend spring camp. He subsequently entered the transfer portal. He moved to join the UCLA Bruins, but the NIL deal there is unknown at the moment.
On Thursday, Iamaleava represented the Bruins at the Big Ten Media Days. There, he was asked about the whole drama that took place over the spring. While addressing the quarterback shut down claims that the move was influenced because of money.
“Yeah, I’d say that my decision to leave was extremely hard—one of the hardest decisions that I’ve ever had to make,” Iamaleava said. “But, you know, family was the biggest thing to me, and, you know, a lot of people think it was about financial stuff. It was never that. It was about me getting back home, close to my family, and playing at the highest level with my family’s support. So, you know, in our Samoan culture, we’re always together, and that was very important to me.”
For the FIRST TIME, Nico Iamaleava speaks on his decision to leave Tennessee ⬇️
“Family was the biggest thing for me. A lot of things about financial stuff… it was never that.” @nico_iamaleava8 🚨
pic.twitter.com/U5HemlNjGT— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) July 24, 2025
Nico Iamaleava is excited about the upcoming season. He sounded optimistic about bringing back the glory days to Westwood.
“The main thing for me is to bring a championship culture back to Westwood,” Iamaleava said. “I hate losing, so I’m a big-time winner.”
UCLA Happy to Have Nico Iamaleava Start as QB1 in 2025
UCLA coach DeShaun Foster was also present at the Big Ten Media Days. He sounded happy to have a playoff-experienced quarterback in Nico Iamaleava playing for their side in 2025.
While talking to reporters, he referenced the game against Ohio State in the 2024 College Football Playoff. While the Vols may have faced a 42-17 defeat, Iamaleava, despite passing up only for a season low 104 yards, managed to rush for two touchdowns. He also took several hits while staying in the pocket, which left Foster impressed.
“We’re just excited to have a playoff quarterback, somebody who was able to lead his team to the playoffs,” Foster said. “(The Vols) might not have gotten the outcome that they wanted, but he still was able to play. And he showed how tough he was in that game.
“To be able to come home and be comfortable in a familiar environment, I think the sky is the limit.”
Iamaleava led Tennessee to a 10-3 record last season. He’ll try to do something similar for UCLA in 2025. The Bruins were 5-7 last season.
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