Faculty soccer’s highest-profile switch is coming residence.
After a falling out with Tennessee, Nico Iamaleava has agreed to play for UCLA subsequent season in a transfer that may generate important buzz for the Bruins after they added a quarterback who took his earlier crew to the Faculty Soccer Playoff.
However the nature of Iamaleava’s departure, which reportedly concerned a need for extra identify, picture and likeness cash from the Volunteers at a time when most groups had lined up a beginning quarterback for subsequent season, might make Iamaleava a polarizing determine earlier than he units foot on his new campus.
Iamaleava introduced his dedication to the Bruins on his Instagram account Sunday, ending greater than every week of hypothesis about his future.
“My journey at UT has come to an end,” Iamaleava’s publish learn. “This decision was incredibly difficult, and truthfully, not something I expected to make this soon. But I trust God’s timing, and I believe He’s leading me where I need to be.
“Even though, this chapter is ending, a new chapter has begun and I am committed to UCLA!”
It was not instantly clear how a lot Iamaleava, a Lengthy Seaside native whose preliminary faculty deal reportedly was set to pay him greater than $2 million to pay for Tennessee subsequent season, agreed to just accept from the Bruins as a part of his transfer again to Southern California. An unnamed buddy of Iamaleava’s household informed Entrance Workplace Sports activities that the dissatisfaction with the Volunteers centered on the necessity to bolster the offensive line and receiving corps, not a requirement for extra compensation.
UCLA appeared to have substantial leverage in negotiations given that almost all groups had dedicated to a beginning quarterback for subsequent season, considerably decreasing demand for a high-priced switch. Additional limiting Iamaleava’s choices, he couldn’t have gone to a different Southeastern Convention faculty with out sitting out a season as a part of convention guidelines related to coming into the switch portal within the spring.
The redshirt sophomore may have three seasons of remaining eligibility. Transferring from a CFP participant to a crew that hasn’t received a convention championship in additional than 1 / 4 of a century presents some danger for Iamaleava in his bid to win on the highest degree of faculty soccer earlier than transferring on to the NFL. He’ll need to study a brand new offense comparatively rapidly after presumably lacking the remainder of spring apply and becoming a member of the crew upon his enrollment this summer time.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, left, is tackled by Florida edge rusher George Gumbs Jr., backside, and linebacker Jaden Robinson throughout an NCAA faculty soccer sport in October.
(Wade Payne / Related Press)
The addition of Iamaleava leaves doubtful the way forward for Joey Aguilar, who spent the primary three weeks of spring apply as UCLA’s presumed beginning quarterback subsequent season after placing up prolific numbers at Appalachian State. Iamaleava’s arrival might nudge Aguilar again into the switch portal contemplating he solely has yet another season of eligibility left.
Aguilar didn’t let hypothesis about Iamaleava instantly alter his plans; he participated within the Bruins’ “Friday Night Lights” occasion as if nothing had modified about his preparation for subsequent season.
The Bruins almost added Nico’s youthful brother, Madden, to their roster on signing day in December earlier than the Lengthy Seaside Poly Excessive quarterback and teammate Jace Brown backed out of their verbal commitments and signed with Arkansas. Nico’s resolution to affix the Bruins indicators that no matter arduous emotions emerged from his brother’s state of affairs have been smoothed over between the crew and the Iamaleava household.
UCLA had one robust ally in its pursuit of Nico Iamaleava as a result of Stacey Ford, the crew’s director of participant personnel, was on the teaching workers at Warren Excessive when the quarterback emerged as a star in the course of the 2021 season. Iamaleava later reportedly signed a four-year, $8-million identify, picture and likeness contract with Spyre Sports activities Group, Tennessee’s identify, picture and likeness collective, with a six-figure fee whereas he was nonetheless in highschool.
After taking part in sparingly in his first faculty season, the 6-foot-6, 215-pounder starred throughout a 2024 season through which he led the Volunteers to the playoff earlier than they misplaced to eventual nationwide champion Ohio State within the first spherical. Iamaleava accomplished 63.8% of his passes for two,616 yards with 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, although critics identified that eight of these touchdowns got here in opposition to frivolously regarded Texas El Paso and Vanderbilt.
As a part of a messy break up with Tennessee that angered Volunteers followers, Iamaleava left earlier than the crew’s spring sport. Acknowledging that he was transferring on, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed reporters that “there’s nobody bigger than the ‘Power T.”
Iamaleava’s probability to win over a brand new fan base begins in a number of months. UCLA will open the season in opposition to Utah on Aug. 30 on the Rose Bowl, its quarterback vying to grow to be the native hero the Bruins have lengthy wanted to reclaim long-lost glory.
