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UCLA Still Rife with Questions After Nico Iamaleava Transfer, Says Big Ten Coach

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kyle Wood | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 8:00 AM ET

UCLA’s inaugural year in the Big Ten did not go according to plan. The Bruins’ five wins were their fewest since 2020. And despite ending the year on a high note, 2025 was not looking much brighter until the spring transfer portal opened up.

Landing former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, a California native with College Football Playoff experience, did not transform UCLA into a contender. However, Iamaleava’s arrival in Westwood makes the Bruins one of the most interesting teams to watch this fall.

“If Nico wasn’t a local kid, I don’t think these two end up together,” an anonymous Big Ten assistant coach said in Athlon Sports’ 2025 College Football Preview magazine. “It’s going to be fascinating to watch, and it’s hard to understand if you’re in Nico’s camp. This is a less talented roster than Knoxville, and they’re rebuilding the offensive line with portal guys and a new OL coach and coordinator.”

These comments were made in UCLA's exclusive scouting report in Athlon’s annual magazine, which is available for purchase online and at newsstands nationwide.

The Bruins don’t bring much back on either side of the ball for coach Deshaun Foster. Leading tackler and sack getter Carson Schwessinger was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft, and UCLA lost its top passer, rusher and receiver to the portal or the NFL from a unit that finished near the bottom of the Big Ten.

That’s why the Bruins added Iamaleava, running back Jaivian Thomas (Cal) and several offensive linemen in the portal. Former Indiana co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tino Sunseri was hired to replace Eric Bieniemy as offensive coordinator. UCLA also addressed its defense by bringing in defensive backs Ben Perry Jr. (Louisville) and Andre Jordan Jr. (Oregon State).

“They portaled a lot of guys in on defense to make up for some major losses, so don’t expect a major improvement there,” the Big Ten assistant said.

New doesn’t always mean better, but the Bruins should at least be more interesting, if not a good deal more competitive in Foster’s second season at the helm. They’ll be tested early with a visit from former Pac-12 foe Utah in their Aug. 30 season opener.

Iamaleava’s play is sure to be compared to Joey Aguilar’s across the country in Knoxville, which in turn invites comparisons between Tennessee and UCLA. The range of outcomes for the Bruins is rather wide with a larger-than-usual spotlight on the program by nature of Iamaleava’s high-profile transfer.

“This is a team with a ton of questions, an almost all-new staff and a superstar transfer at QB,” the anonymous coach said. “They’re going to steal a lot of attention from USC for a bit, but it’s going to be a huge challenge for a young, unproven head coach to keep this from becoming a circus that falls apart.”

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

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