Paul Finebaum. © Shanna Lockwood-Imagn Images

Paul Finebaum Names Major College Football QB Whose Career Has Been Set Back

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jaron Spor | Last updated Jun 29, 2025 8:00 PM ET

The new era of college football has arrived, highlighted by former Tennessee Volunteers star quarterback Nico Iamaleava's decision to leave after just one season as the starter.

According to On3, Iamaleava, a five-star recruit and the No. 1 player in the 2023 class, had a commendable first year as the starting quarterback in 2024. He threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. Although his statistics may not have been spectacular, he played a pivotal role in leading the Volunteers to their first appearance in the College Football Playoff and showcased his elite potential.

In April, On3's Pete Nakos first reported that Iamaleava and Tennessee were engaged in NIL negotiations. However, Iamaleava's father denied those rumors. The following day, Iamaleava did not attend practice, sparking further speculation about his possible departure. It was subsequently announced before the spring game that he was no longer part of the program. Iamaleava would eventually transfer to the UCLA Bruins.

On "The Paul Finebaum Show," SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum remarked that this situation illustrates how those close to you do not always know what is best.

"Nico's father was wrong," Finebaum said. "He thought he knew it all. He set his son's career back. I'm not saying it can't be salvaged. If he goes out there and plays well, he'll be fine. Whatever money he's not making, he will make up for it if he gets the right coaching and development. But he won't have the better coach out there than he did in Knoxville with Josh Heupel. That to me is the real tragedy of it all."

Now, Iamaleava is putting his trust in head coach DeShaun Foster and new offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri. Sunseri joins the Bruins after helping lead a high-powered Indiana Hoosiers offense in 2024, which propelled them to the College Football Playoff.

Under his guidance, Indiana finished ranked No. 34 in total offense, tied for No. 34 in passing offense and No. 2 in scoring offense, averaging 41.3 points per game. He also played a key role in transforming Kurtis Rourke into a late-round draft pick after Rourke threw for 3,042 yards, 29 touchdowns and only five interceptions.

The Bruins finished with a 5-7 record in Foster's first season last year, marking their first losing season since the COVID-shortened 2020 season. They hope to bounce back, and Iamaleava is eager to prove the doubters wrong in 2025.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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