Report: UCLA QB Dermaricus Davis plans to enter transfer portal amid Nico Iamaleava fallout

UCLA quarterback Dermaricus Davis is expected to enter the NCAA transfer portal, according to a report from CBS Sports. He will be the latest Bruins QB to hit the open market amid the Nico Iamaleava fallout.

Davis did not play in a game last season for UCLA as a true freshman. As a result, he will have all four years of eligibility remaining after preserving a redshirt.

Davis played high school football at Upland (Calif.) Etiwanda, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 221 overall player from the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

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.

Dermaricus Davis’ decision to transfer comes after UCLA lost another quarterback entered the portal Friday. Robert McDaniel also hit the open market as the Bruins welcome in both Nico and Madden Iamaleava from the spring transfer window.

Davis and McDaniel’s departures come as both Iamaleava brothers prepare to make their way to UCLA. Nico Iamaleava entered the transfer portal following an NIL dispute at Tennessee ahead of the spring game, and the program ultimately chose to part ways after he missed a practice. Madden Iamaleava, meanwhile, signed with Arkansas as a 2025 recruit before entering the portal. He is expected to join Nico with the Bruins.

In addition, the quarterback UCLA brought in during the spring window also transferred following the news. Joey Aguilar committed in December after spending two seasons at Appalachian State. However, he opted to enter the transfer portal after the Bruins signed Iamaleava on Sunday. Iamaleava likely would’ve started over Aguilar next season.

After reports surfaced saying the expectation was Iamaleava would end up at UCLA, Bruins coach DeShaun Foster addressed his conversations with Aguilar. He, of course, committed to the program as the likely starting quarterback, and Foster spoke highly of what he saw through spring practice.

“We talked to Joey, you know, just like every other quarterback that’s in that room, and discuss what’s going on or what’s not going on, and how he’s practicing and everything,” Foster told reporters. “So I like where Joey’s at right now, and hopefully he can keep progressing at spring goes. … Each day he’s getting better, you know, inserting his leadership on the team.”