A source close to the situation says the UCLA Bruins have emerged as a potential front-runner in the Nico Iamaleava sweepstakes. But whether that means they’ll secure the talented passer’s commitment remains to be seen.
UCLA Still An Option for QB Nico Iamaleava, Transfer Portal Expert Says
After his abrupt departure from the Tennessee Volunteers program, five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava is searching for a new home.
Reports surfaced recently that his main options were with the UCLA Bruins, Tulane Green Wave, and North Carolina Tar Heels. College football reporter Pete Nakos provided some insight on the situation during an appearance on On3 Sports Andy Staples’ podcast.
“UCLA is still very much a viable option.”
— @PeteNakos_ on potential landing spots for Nico Iamaleava pic.twitter.com/8oPk7VeyNo
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) April 15, 2025
Nakos explained that previous expectations of Tulane and North Carolina, who are seen as having vacant positions at quarterback, being open to Iamaleava have since dwindled.
For the Green Wave, he cited that the program won’t be able to reach the market value for the former Volunteers’ star.
It’s likely that the only instance that he’d end up with the program would be if his value dropped significantly—which, after seeming nearly impossible following his transfer portal entrance, doesn’t seem nearly as out of the question now.
The Tar Heels, who are believed to have the resources to meet the market number Iamaleava is commanding, are the leading candidate for former South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez, who recently entered the portal.
Nakos did reveal the Bruins as remaining a real landing spot, however.
“UCLA is still very much a viable option,” he said. “I got a phone call last night that UCLA feels like they’re still in the mix on this.”
The Bruins disappointed in 2024, finishing with a 5-7 record behind Ethan Garbers’s quarterbacking. The senior exhausted his eligibility and won’t be back next season.
Backup quarterback Justyn Martin, a former four-star prospect, appeared in three games last season and showed potential, completing 22 of 30 passes for 167 yards and a touchdown on the road against the seventh-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions.
Unfortunately for the Bruins, he entered the transfer portal and promptly landed with the Maryland Terrapins.
KEEP READING: Top 5 Transfer Landing Spots for QB Nico Iamaleava
Currently, UCLA’s starting quarterback is former Appalachian State Mountaineers signal-caller Joey Aguilar. In two seasons as the starter, he compiled 56 touchdown passes versus 27 interceptions.
Though he proved to be a solid starter with the Bruins, Iamaleava’s potential is unquestioned. Simply put, he was a five-star for a reason—despite a bumpy redshirt freshman season with the Volunteers in 2024.
His raw numbers were solid: 2,616 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, and five interceptions, along with 358 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He was a major reason for the program clinching their first-ever College Football Playoff berth.
But he is clearly an unfinished product—with alarming character concerns now arising over finances.
Whether that’s just the new day and age of college football is a moot point as far as the Bruins should go. Iamaleava is as talented of a quarterback as they come—making it an obvious choice from a simple on-field product view.
Ultimately, that’s not what it is—and it remains to be seen whether UCLA’s decision-makers will pull the trigger on the immensely talented former Vol passer.
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