DeShaun Foster on adding Nico Iamaleava: ‘Something we couldn’t pass up’

UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster wanted to add Nico Iamaleava to the football roster. He said it was something they couldn’t pass up once Iamaleava entered the transfer portal and left Tennessee.

His saga was documented in bulk as his camp was trying to negotiate more money in an NIL deal, reportedly pushing towards $4 million. But, it didn’t work out, he left and went back closer to home.

While the NIL money wasn’t rolling like Iamaleava’s camp hoped for, Foster didn’t want to miss out on adding a talented quarterback. It was simple football logistics for the Bruins.

“Being able to bring in the No. 1 player in the portal is just something that we couldn’t pass up,” Foster said. “A good quarterback. A local kid. A lot of the kids on the team know him, have played with him. So we’re just excited to get him out here once he finishes at Tennessee. Get out here and be around our team.”

As far as when Iamaleava gets to UCLA, along with his brother Madden who’s transferring from Arkansas, Nico has to finish at Tennessee. UCLA is not on semesters like Tennessee.

“He has to finish at Tennessee first,” Foster said. Iamaleava is expected to take over as QB1 pretty much instantaneously.

As far as why Iamaleava transferred, there’s a lot of talk regarding money, offensive fit, being closer to home, etc. Foster answered simply, saying Iamaleava felt more comfortable on the west coast.

“The player that wanted to come home and be closer to his family,” Foster said. “So, I think the family played a big role in being able to come back to California, I think that played a big role too.”

Foster was mum on the details regarding Iamaleava’s NIL package as well. All he knows is, or at least made public, was that Iamaleava accepted the offer.

“Characterize it? A success. … I don’t know what he was looking for,” Foster said. “I know that he accepted our contract and he wants to be a Bruin. So, that’s all I’m focused on. He wants to be a Bruin. He wants to be here and we’re excited.”

Iamaleava comes in, which forced Joey Aguilar to make a decision. The former Appalachian State quarterback came in during the winter portal period, but transferred with Iamaleava coming in. Ironically, Aguilar goes to Iamaleava’s old stomping grounds: Tennessee.

“When I was in the NFL they drafted a running back every year,” Foster said. “So, this is a competition sport and we had an opportunity to bring in the No. 1 player in the portal, so that was something we had to do. We’re just looking forward to all the players that want to be here and want to be Bruins and just moving on and keep going.”