Nico Iamaleava’s long-anticipated UCLA debut is in the books, and it couldn’t have gone much worse. After dominating headlines all offseason with his high-profile transfer from Tennessee, the five-star quarterback was expected to inject instant electricity into the Bruins’ offense.
Instead, the Bruins opened the 2025 campaign with a 43–10 loss to Utah. Iamaleava’s numbers told the story. He completed just 11 of 22 passes for 136 yards, throwing one touchdown but also surrendering an interception.
For UCLA fans who had been waiting for their new leader under center, the reality check was immediate. Now, just days removed from that bruising defeat, Iamaleava faces his next test: a Week 2 clash with UNLV. And if the pregame talk is any indication, the Rebels’ defense isn’t in awe of him.
In fact, defensive back Aamaris Brown was refreshingly blunt when asked what he thought of the Bruins quarterback.
“Honestly, nothing really sticks out to me about him [on tape],” Brown said in a press conference. “You know in the past there’s been talk about ‘five-star this, five-star that.’ I have been around plenty of five-star and four-star [players], it don’t scare me.” (32:55)
“I have played competition higher than them, including Alabama and all that. Going against a guy like Nico, there’s no surprise, no excitement or nothing like that,” he added.
Brown’s comments were more than just confidence, they were a direct challenge. For a young quarterback trying to find his footing, the remarks only raise the stakes. Either Iamaleava uses the criticism as fuel to deliver a statement game, or questions about whether he can live up to the hype will only grow louder.
Aamaris Brown’s Coach Is All Praise for Nico Iamaleava
While Aamaris Brown’s blunt assessment grabbed headlines, his head coach took a very different view. UNLV coach Dan Mullen acknowledged that Nico Iamaleava’s debut against Utah wasn’t statistically impressive, but he saw plenty of upside when reviewing the film.
In the aforementioned press conference, Mullen said:
“Watching the film, you see the talent that he has. The performance in the end, statistically in the end, probably wasn’t the game he wanted to play, but you can certainly see his talent on film.” (7:14)
Mullen believes that after a humiliating loss, Iamaleava will have extra motivation to prove himself. So, he is expecting a more fired-up performance from the UCLA quarterback in their matchup.
Mullen’s respect adds a sharper edge to Saturday’s matchup. The Rebels are eager for the chance to test themselves against a big opponent, and the Bruins badly need to prove their prized transfer quarterback can deliver.
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