Nico Iamaleava has plenty of upside, and it’s up to UCLA’s staff tap into that potential

After a busy offseason in the transfer portal, the UCLA Bruins are beginning to settle down. With new quarterback Nico Iamaleava at the helm of the Bruins’ offense, UCLA can get to work. 

Entering the 2025 season, Iamaleava projects as one of the best-returning quarterbacks in the NCAA, according to Patrick Conn of College Sports Wire. 

Listed as the 11th-best returner at the position, Conn notes, “Now that the drama from a few weeks ago that resulted in Iamaleava exiting stage left in Knoxville for the West Coast is behind him, he can get back to football. As the full-time starter with the Vols this past season, Tennessee earned its first trip to the College Football Playoff. Albeit was a short trip with a blowout loss in the opening round against the eventual national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, 42-17.” 

Conn continues, “Iamaleava now turns to leading UCLA out of the doldrums of the Big Ten after they finished 5-7 under first-year head coach Deshaun Foster. There will be no shortage of headlines out West, especially in the City of Angels, along with the USC Trojans.”

One of three Big Ten quarterbacks listed, joining Penn State’s Drew Allar (No. 1) and Illinois‘ Luke Altmyer (No. 10), Iamaleava joins some impressive competition. With UCLA’s spring showcase set to kick off on May 3, fans could get their first taste of Iamaleava in the Bruins’ blue and gold ahead of the 2025 season. Â