Iamaleava Transfers from Tennessee to UCLA, Aguilar Follows

Categories: College University AthleticsCollege/University NewsEducation

UCLA football players gearing up for the upcoming season during practice.

News Summary

Nico Iamaleava has left Tennessee for UCLA during the Bruins’ spring practice, prompting quarterback Joey Aguilar to switch to Tennessee. This move affects both teams amid NIL deal pressures and quarterback dynamics. Iamaleava’s exit follows dissatisfaction with his NIL deal at Tennessee, while Aguilar’s departure marks significant changes for both programs ahead of the upcoming season.

Los Angeles

Nico Iamaleava has officially transferred from the University of Tennessee to UCLA, a decision that comes during the Bruins’ spring practice. The move has significant implications for both teams, as Iamaleava’s transfer led to UCLA quarterback Joey Aguilar leaving for Tennessee shortly afterward.

The transition period has challenged UCLA’s spring practice, with the team facing a shortage of quarterbacks due to Iamaleava’s departure. During a recent spring game for the Bruins, quarterback Luke Duncan filled the void by receiving both first-team and second-team reps. Iamaleava was seen at the game but in street clothes, unable to participate as he needed to complete his classes at Tennessee before joining the UCLA program officially.

UCLA’s head coach Deshaun Foster expressed appreciation for Iamaleava’s presence, emphasizing his commanding stature at 6-foot-6 and his potential to impact the team’s dynamics positively. Although he will be familiarizing himself with UCLA’s offense, Foster anticipates Iamaleava will transition smoothly rather than learning an entirely new playbook. Expectations are high for Iamaleava, who is projected to be the starting quarterback for UCLA in the 2025 season. The Bruins’ upcoming season starts on August 30 against Utah.

Iamaleava’s transfer comes in the wake of dissatisfaction with his NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) deal at Tennessee. His representatives had sought to renegotiate a deal that would provide him with approximately $4 million per year, significantly higher than his initial earnings of about $2.4 million at the university. Following a disappointing loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff, Iamaleava’s camp expressed that he needed a mental break from the pressures surrounding him. On the day he skipped practice, communication between his coaches and teammates at Tennessee was severed, leading him to enter the transfer portal.

Less than two weeks after making the decision to enter the portal, Iamaleava committed to UCLA. Although his financial arrangement with UCLA is reportedly less than what he would have earned at Tennessee, it does exceed prior estimates of $1.5 million. The implications of this transition extend beyond Iamaleava, as his brother, Madden, is also expected to transfer to UCLA.

UCLA’s loss of Aguilar to Tennessee marks a further shift in the quarterback landscape. Aguilar, who showed promising performance at Appalachian State, was seen as a fitting replacement for Iamaleava at Tennessee following the latter’s abrupt exit. Iamaleava’s departure highlighted a period of miscommunication and growing distrust between him and the Tennessee program, which had been trying to address his concerns regarding the team’s performance and offensive support throughout the year.

During Iamaleava’s two seasons at Tennessee, he played in 18 games, accumulating impressive statistics that included 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdown passes, and six rushing touchdowns. His tenure at Tennessee saw ups and downs, ultimately leading to his decision to seek a fresh start at UCLA amid mounting pressures regarding performance, support, and NIL deals.

As the Bruins prepare for their upcoming season and adjust to the new quarterback dynamics, both Iamaleava’s transfer and Aguilar’s subsequent departure underline the significant impact of NIL deals on college athletics. This evolving landscape presents new challenges and opportunities for teams across the nation as they navigate recruitment and player retention.