Nico Iamaleava: Tennessee Farewell Message
- Former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico iamaleava, now wiht UCLA, recently shared a message for his former teammates.
- Iamaleava, a highly-touted five-star recruit, redshirted his first season at Tennessee before becoming the starting quarterback.
- Following Iamaleava's transfer to UCLA, tennessee secured quarterback Joey Aguilar from the transfer portal.
Nico Iamaleava has sent a farewell message to his former Tennessee teammates after transferring to UCLA, signaling the end of an era. The departure,stemming from NIL disputes,marks a notable shift in college football. The primary_keyword, Iamaleava’s move, is a headline as UCLA coach DeShaun Foster is thrilled with the acquisition of the quarterback. Foster highlighted Iamaleava’s size, competitiveness, and arm strength as key assets. The secondary_keyword is the impact on Tennessee’s roster, as they now address the void. News Directory 3 is following this and other major moves. The Bruins are beginning their 2025 season against Utah, with crucial games ahead. discover what’s next for Iamaleava and the UCLA Bruins as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Nico Iamaleava Sends Message to Tennessee After UCLA Transfer
Updated June 02, 2025
Former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico iamaleava, now wiht UCLA, recently shared a message for his former teammates. The message comes nearly two months after iamaleava’s transfer, which followed NIL disputes and a stint in the transfer portal.
Iamaleava, a highly-touted five-star recruit, redshirted his first season at Tennessee before becoming the starting quarterback. Last season, he completed 213 of 334 passes for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions. Though,he faced challenges against top-ranked teams,struggling in playoff games.
“gon miss my real ones,” Iamaleava wrote on Instagram.
Following Iamaleava’s transfer to UCLA, tennessee secured quarterback Joey Aguilar from the transfer portal. Aguilar’s arrival aims to fill the void left by Iamaleava’s departure.
UCLA coach thrilled to land Nico Iamaleava
UCLA coach DeShaun Foster expressed his enthusiasm about acquiring Iamaleava,emphasizing his size,competitiveness,and arm strength. Foster also highlighted the importance of keeping California talent in the state.
“6’6″, this is a big guy,” Foster said. “A true competitor. Fiery. big arm.And then, it’s gonna—keeping the California kids and L.A. kids here, you know? this is a big thing…”
“You want to be in conversations,you want to play big-time ball,you want to have haters,you want all of this stuff,” Foster said,“because that means that you’re trending in the right direction. So, if you want to play big-time ball, you can do that here at UCLA. I got a quarterback situation that’s gonna pan out for us.”
Foster noted that UCLA conducted thorough research on Iamaleava before offering him a spot on the team, dismissing social media rumors. The Bruins are confident in Iamaleava’s ability to lead their offense.
What’s next
UCLA is set to begin its 2025 season against Utah on aug. 30. Key matchups for the Bruins include games against Penn State, Indiana, Nebraska, Ohio State, and USC. The addition of nico Iamaleava is expected to bolster their chances in these contests.