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ESPN: UCLA coaching staff informs quarterbacks of Nico Iamaleava transfer

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•04/20/25•

GrantRamey

Nico Iamaleava
USA Today Sports

The UCLA football coaching staff has spoken to the team’s quarterbacks about the “expected transfer” addition of former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Iamaleava has yet to announce his commitment to a new school after parting ways with the Tennessee Football program on April 11.

“The UCLA staff has informed the team’s current quarterbacks of the expected transfer of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava to UCLA,” Thamel reported on Sunday afternoon. “This is a key step that shows the discussions between UCLA and Iamaleava are significant. A formal decision is expected in near future.”

NIL negotiations, skipping practice led Tennessee to parting ways with Nico Iamaleava

On3’s Pete Nakos reported on Thursday, April 10 that Iamaleava was in contract negotiations for a new NIL deal. He then skipped practice the next morning and was not in contact with Tennessee’s coaching staff through the day.

Josh Heupel told his team last Saturday, ahead of the Orange & White Game later that day, that the Vols would be moving on from Iamaleava as quarterback.

“Obviously we’re moving forward as a program without him,” Heupel said after the annual spring game at Neyland Stadium. “ … there’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T and that includes me. And (the players) hear me say that a lot inside of that team room.

“This program has been around for a long time with a lot of great coaches, a lot of great players that came before that laid the cornerstone pieces, the legacy, the tradition that is Tennessee Football. It’s going to be around a long time after I’m done and after they’re gone.”

UCLA was immediately identified as a widely reported possible landing spot for Iamaleava, the Long Beach, Calif., native. North Carolina and Tulane were also said to be interested before backing out.

It was reported last Wednesday that Iamaleava was headed to UCLA, with the Iamaleava family blaming Tennessee’s offense as the reason for the move.

Nico Iamaleava last season: 2,616 yards, 19 TDs, 5 INTs

Iamaleava passed for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 13 games last season, his first season as Tennessee’s starter. The Vols went 10-3, ending the season with a 42-17 loss at Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.

He was the No. 1 overall prospect when he committed to and signed with Tennessee in the class of 2023. 

Tennessee has yet to add a third quarterback out of the NCAA Transfer Portal, leaving the Vols with only redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre on the quarterback depth chart.

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