Report: UCLA freshman QB Robert McDaniel will enter transfer portal amid Nico Iamaleava, Joey Aguilar shakeup

UCLA freshman quarterback Robert McDaniel will reportedly enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to Bruin Report Online. McDaniel’s move comes following the expected arrival of brothers Nico and Madden Iamaleava.

McDaniel isn’t the only quarterback from the Bruins’ spring roster that his the transfer portal. Joey Aguilar transferred into UCLA from Appalachian State this spring. He was highly productive for the Mountaineers, and expected to compete for the starting job in LA. Aguilar has since transferred to Tennessee, essentially swapping places with Nico Iamaleava, who is transferring in to UCLA from Tennessee.

Now, McDaniel is set to enter the portal as well. He came to UCLA as a three-star recruit, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, which is a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services. He was the No. 482 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, as well as the No. 31 quarterback in the class.

McDaniel was recruited by the likes of Arizona, Florida, San Jose State and Indiana, among others. The California native was even committed to the Wildcats for a time, but flipped his commitment last December. Ironically, he flipped his commitment within days after Madden Iamaleava, who is now expected to transfer back to UCLA, de-committed from the Bruins before committing to Arkansas.

“It feels really amazing that the school that I had a goal of going to is attained,” McDaniel told On3’s Chad Simmons. “This was definitely not a easy decision, but with the help of my family and friends, I feel very confident in it.”

Now, McDaniel will be seeking a new home to spend his true freshman season in college football. He was committed to the Wildcats for several months, and whether the offer to Arizona is still on the table remains to be seen. However, his status as an Elite 11 finalist, not to mention having led his high school team to its best season in the last two decades as a senior in 2024.

The transfer portal wire provides a real-time feed of player activity, including basic player profile information, transfer portal ranking and original On3 Industry recruiting ranking, as well as NIL valuation (name, image and likeness).

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.