Nico Iamaleava to UCLA: Is Nico Iamaleava to UCLA feasible? Looking at former Tennessee QB's landing spot

Is Nico Iamaleava to UCLA feasible? Looking at former Tennessee QB's landing spot

Syndication: The Knoxville News-Sentinel - Source: Imagn — Nico Iamaleava could head back to California. - Source: Imagn

Nico Iamaleava to UCLA could become a reality for the 2025 season. The former Tennessee Volunteers star told the school that he wishes to enter the transfer portal after he parted ways with the program.

Iamaleava and the Volunteers were at odds over NIL compensation for the upcoming season. After both sides were unable to come to an agreement, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel confirmed that the team would move on without the talented quarterback for the 2025 season.

After finishing his first season as a starter with 2,614 passing yards, 19 scores, and five interceptions, Iamaleava is expected to be one of the hottest recruits in the transfer portal. One situation to consider is that if Nico Iamaleava to UCLA is to become a reality, the school will have to invest in the quarterback.

Still, a move for the 20-year-old to UCLA is considered one of the most likely outcomes for the former Tennessee signal-caller.

Why Nico Iamaleava to UCLA makes sense

The UCLA Bruins just spent $3 million bringing New Mexico basketball star Donovan Dent to LA (per CBS Sports' Isaac Trotter). That is a likely indicator that the program would be willing to invest to bring Nico Iamaleava to UCLA for the upcoming season.

The school did bring in former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar through the transfer portal already. Aguilar is also expected to team up with his Mountaineers teammate Kaedin Robinson in Westwood.

A particular roadblock for a Nico Iamaleava move is, ironically, Iamaleava's brother, Madden. The younger Iamaleava decommitted from the school in December, which could create a tense negotiating environment.

However, the Bruins are still far from the most competitive programs in the Big Ten after finishing with a 5-7 record in their first year in the Conference. Adding a top quarterback could help reduce the gap. Iamaleava is considered a more talented player than Aguilar and he seems to fit Tino Sunseri's offensive system.

Sunseri helped turn Kurtis Rourke into an NFL Draft prospect, so that could also be appealing for the signal-caller, considering he has the tools for a future in the NFL.

The Bruins were also one of the worst-scoring offenses in the FBS. Their 18.4 points per game ranked 126th among 134 schools. Iamaleava could also change that in a hurry.

A move for Nico Iamaleava to UCLA would also be a chance for the quarterback to go back home. The Long Beach, California native would be closer to his environment and might feel more comfortable on the West Coast.

About the author

Allan Wolburg Robles is a College Sports journalist at Sportskeeda with over 17 years of experience in the field writing for publications including Reforma, Yahoo! OddsShark and Apuesta. Allan studied Communications at Anáhuac University, where he learned what would become the basis of a trade that was already a dream of his before starting college.

His favorite team is Army West Point as when he was young, Allan lived in West Point for a couple of years, went to pretty much every home game, a couple of Army-Navy games and even got to meet some of the players.

Allan's favorite players of all time include Tommie Frazier, who was unbelievable during the Nebraska dynasty of the early 90's. Tim Tebow was also a favorite, mainly because of his leadership skills, although he was also awesome on the football field. As a fan of defensive football, (or what's left of it), Sean Taylor could take over a game for Miami.

Allan has always considered himself a student of the game more than a fan of it. So the historical part and evolution of the game, as well as the ins and outs of what happens on the field, and being able to put it into words for the audience, are his biggest strengths.

Besides sports, Allan enjoys reading books, watching movies and spending time with his dogs.

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Edited by Satagni Sikder