Nico Iamaleava update: DeShaun Foster responds to questions on UCLA pursuit

UCLA coach DeShaun Foster didn’t have an update on the program’s pursuit of Nico Iamaleava while speaking with reporters Friday. The Athletic previously reported the Bruins are expected to be the destination for the former Tennessee quarterback after he entered the transfer portal.

Foster met with reporters ahead of UCLA’s “Friday Night Lights” event, which featured plenty of recruits and doubled as another spring practice. He could not comment specifically on Iamaleava, per NCAA rules, but was asked about what his last 72 hours have been like since the portal opened. Iamaleava entered the portal Wednesday.

Foster pointed out his wife just gave birth, so he has a newborn at home. In addition to his other children, he pointed out how crazy his days already are.

“We have a newborn at home,” Foster said. “So I have a seven-week-old baby, and I have an 18-month-old. There’s a 9-year-old, there’s a 15-year-old, 13. So my days have been pretty hectic, but I think it’s a good hectic.”

Iamaleava is currently the No. 2-ranked player in the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings. His decision to enter the portal came after On3’s Pete Nakos reported active negotiations between the former five-star quarterback and Tennessee ahead of the Vols’ spring game. Iamaleava then missed practice the following day, and Josh Heupel confirmed the two sides were parting ways.

UCLA was then reported as the expected destination, and the two sides have been working on a deal. All the while, all eyes are on new Bruins quarterback Joey Aguilar, who transferred from Appalachian State. ESPN’s Chris Low reported his reps have been gauging interest amid the Iamaleava rumors. Foster spoke about Aguilar’s statement and said he looked good in practice this week even as the noise was swirling, and he had a message about the QB’s mentality.

“Control what you can control,” Foster said. “As a football player, that’s what you’ve got to do. We play in big-time stadiums. You go to Ohio State, you’ve got to control what you can control. So if you can’t perform because there’s a little bit of noise, that’s probably not a good thing. What I’ve seen from Joey these last few practices has been good.”

As for the culture at UCLA, DeShaun Foster spoke highly of the character of the players he and his staff brought in over the last year since taking over. He also noted the role relationships play in recruiting.

“Mostly kids that you would end up bringing in, you might have a previous relationship with them,” Foster said. “You might’ve met them or saw them in a situation, or some way, being in Southern Cal. I think most of the kids that we’ve brought in – actually, I know most of the kids we’ve brought in are wired the right way and are the kind of kids that we want.”