Nico Iamaleava has made a decision about his next school.
Iamaleava is set to transfer to UCLA, according to two different reports. Colin Cowherd reported the news on Wednesday and added that Iamaleava’s family says the quarterback left Tennessee in part due to issues with the Volunteers offense.
Bruce Feldman, who also reported that Iamaleava is expected to transfer to UCLA, says that the Iamaleava family sought to have Tennessee upgrade its offensive line and wide receivers this offseason. Additionally, Iamaleava wanted to renegotiate and was seeking $4 million in NIL money. Tennessee declined to meet the asking price, which led Iamaleava to transfer.
Meanwhile, ESPN’s Chris Low reports that Iamaleava is still “in talks” with UCLA.
“We’ll see if it gets worked out. He’s extremely talented with starting experience against elite competition. That’s sort of where we are right now,” the UCLA source told ESPN.
Iamaleava is from Long Beach, California, and spent two years at Tennessee. He threw for 2,616 yards with 19 touchdown passes and five interceptions in his first year as a full-time starter last season. He also rushed for 358 yards and 3 scores while helping the Vols reach the College Football Playoff.
He is leaving a team that made the College Football Playoff for a UCLA squad that went 5-7 last year and ranked 126th out of 134 schools in points per game. Details surrounding any NIL deal between Iamaleava and UCLA have not yet been released.
