Report: Tennessee transfer QB Nico Iamaleava expected to commit to UCLA

Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to commit to UCLA, per The Athletic. He spent two years with the Vols before entering the transfer portal during the spring window following active negotiations about a new NIL deal.

The report from The Athletic came after FOX Sports host Colin Cowherd reported Iamaleava to UCLA was a “done deal” shortly after he hit the transfer portal with a “do not contact” tag. Cowherd added Iamaleava’s decision was not about money, but rather the scheme at Tennessee.

Iamaleava began his career as Joe Milton’s primary backup before taking over as Tennessee’s starting quarterback in 2024. He threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore and it appeared as if he’d get ready to take a leap forward in 2025. He made his first career start in the Citrus Bowl to end the 2023 season, completing 12 of 19 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown while also adding 27 rushing yards and three scores on the ground.

However, two days before Tennessee’s 2025 spring game, On3’s Pete Nakos reported Iamaleava was in active negotiations about a new NIL deal. The quarterback was then absent from the following day’s practice as the situation unfolded, and he ultimately chose to enter the transfer portal. When he did so, he could not commit to an SEC program as conference rules do not allow intra-conference transfers during the spring portal window from April 16-25.

Prior to his absence from the April 11 practice – which ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported was a “surprise” – Chris Low reported Iamaleava didn’t have much contact with the program. Staff members, including offensive coordinator Joey Halzle, had dinner at Iamaleava’s house April 10. From there, communication was fairly quiet.

Iamaleava, a Long Beach native, played high school football at Downey (Calif.) Warren, where he was a five-star prospect and the No. 6 overall player from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was also the No. 1 overall player in the On300 Rankings.

Iamaleava also came onto the college football scene as one of the highest-profile recruits in the country. He currently has an On3 NIL Valuation of $2.1 million, which ranks No. 23 in the On3 NIL 100 – the first of its kind and defacto NIL ranking of the top 100 high school and college athletes ranked by their On3 NIL Valuation. That figure also ranks No. 18 in the college football NIL rankings.

As a result of his NIL potential, Nico Iamaleava’s recruitment made national headlines. Notably, The Athletic reported he signed an NIL deal with Spyre Sports Group that could be worth $8 million over three years, marking a seminal moment in the NIL era. The group ranked No. 2 in On3’s Top NIL collectives in college football ahead of the 2024 season.