Why UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava set to return | College News
Bob Chesney didn’t have to go far to secure his most important participant.
He was already on campus.
Nico Iamaleava has agreed to return to UCLA for next season, giving the Bruins a top-level quarterback as half of their new coach’s bid for a fast turnaround from a 3-9 season under his predecessor and an interim coach.
Iamaleava announced his intentions on Instagram, posting a spotlight video alongside a caption studying, “NO PLACE LIKE HOME. Back with my brothers. Same vision. Same goals. Same grind. Locked in. Time to work!”
The attainable advantages transcend bettering Iamaleava’s NFL draft stock with a strong season. Another important plus might be the reputational increase related with staying put after Iamaleava left Tennessee during spring apply in 2025 as half of an emotionally charged falling out with the Volunteers that sparked widespread criticism.
Remaining a Bruin will also permit the redshirt junior to spend at least one more season on the same crew as his brother Madden, who shall be a redshirt freshman quarterback after showing at the end of one sport last season.
None of UCLA’s struggles in 2025 might be blamed on its beginning quarterback. Constantly under duress from a move rush that met little resistance from his offensive line, Iamaleava was his crew’s main passer and rusher despite being sacked 27 occasions.
Iamaleava accounted for 17 of his crew’s 24 touchdowns and led the Bruins with 10 performs of 20 yards or more, all coming on the ground. Although he wasn’t a prolific passer — his 255 yards through the air as half of a livid comeback against Nevada Las Vegas had been a season high — Iamaleava’s capability to produce big performs with his arm and his legs introduced a enormous downside for opposing defenses.
Iamaleava’s passing accuracy loved a slight uptick from his closing season at Tennessee, where he helped the Volunteers attain the College Football Playoff. In his first season as a Bruin after returning home in half to be nearer to his household in Long Beach, Iamaleava accomplished 64.4% of his passes for 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions.
Whether he was scrambling out of the pocket or sprinting on designed quarterback runs, Iamaleava might need been hardest to stop when he planted his toes and took off. He led the crew with 505 dashing yards and 4 touchdowns in 112 carries, including 128 yards and three touchdowns during a victory over then-No. 7 Penn State.
Equally important was the management of a participant who unflinchingly met with the media after losses and challenged others. Amid the crew’s 0-4 start, Iamaleava told teammates they might depart if they didn’t need to keep and help spark a turnaround. No one did, and the crew went on to win its next three video games.
Now Iamaleava is staying put, giving his coach a enormous building block as half of his efforts to forge a sturdy basis.
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