Nico Iamaleava

Nico Iamaleava
Iamaleava in 2024
No. 9 – UCLA Bruins
PositionQuarterback
Class Sophomore
Personal information
Born (2004-09-02) September 2, 2004
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Weight200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High schoolWarren (Downey, California)
College
Awards and highlights
Stats at ESPN

Nicholaus "Nico" Iamaleava (/iˌjɑːməleɪˈjɑːvə/ ee-YAH-mə-lay-YAH-və;[1] born September 2, 2004) is an American college football quarterback for the UCLA Bruins. He previously played for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Early life

Iamaleava was born on September 2, 2004, in Long Beach, California, and is of Samoan descent.[2][3] Iamaleava attended both Warren High School in Downey, California and Long Beach Polytechnic High School. As a senior, Iamaleava threw for 1,726 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for six touchdowns.[4] He was named the Polynesian Football Player of the Year.[5][6] Iamaleava was also named the MVP of the Polynesian Bowl, throwing for 186 yards and a touchdown.[7] Iamaleava was rated as one of the top players in the class of 2023 and committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee.[8][9]

Iamaleava enrolled early at Tennessee in December 2022, participating in workouts for the 2022 Orange Bowl.[10][11]

College recruiting information (2023)
Name Hometown School Height Weight Commit date
Nico Iamaleava
QB 		Long Beach, California Warren 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Mar 21, 2022 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:    (87)

College career

Tennessee

Iamaleava served as the backup quarterback to Joe Milton during the 2023 regular season before being named Tennessee's starting quarterback for the Citrus Bowl, played in January.[12][13] In his first career start during the Citrus Bowl, Iamaleava threw for 151 yards and recorded four total touchdowns, one passing and three rushing, leading Tennessee to a 35–0 victory over Iowa.[14][15] For his performance, he was named Citrus Bowl MVP.[16]

Entering the 2024 season, Iamaleava was named Tennessee's starting quarterback.[17] In the season opener against Chattanooga, he threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns in a 69–3 win.[18] Iamaleava finished the season throwing for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions, leading Tennessee to a 10–3 record and the program's first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.[19]

On April 10, 2025, it was reported that Iamaleava was in active contract negotiations with Tennessee regarding a rework of his NIL deal.[20][21] The next day, Iamaleava was absent from the team's practice prior to the Volunteers’ spring game.[22][23] On April 12, head football coach Josh Heupel announced that Tennessee would be moving on from Iamaleava at quarterback.[24]

UCLA

On April 20, 2025, Iamaleava announced his decision to transfer to the University of California, Los Angeles to play for the UCLA Bruins.[25] Following three consecutive losses and an 0–3 record, UCLA fired head coach DeShaun Foster and promoted Tim Skipper as interim head coach.[26] Offensive and defensive coordinators Tino Sunseri and Ikaika Malloe were later released as well.[27][28] Going into week 5 at home against No. 7 ranked Penn State, the team had Jerry Neuheisel and Kevin Coyle as the interim offensive and defensive coordinators. Iamaleava would steer the team to an upset win, throwing for 166 yards and two touchdowns for a score of 42–37.[29] The following game at Michigan State saw continued success for Iamaleava, throwing for 180 yards and three touchdowns for a 38–13 victory.[30]

Statistics

Season Team Games Passing Rushing
GP GS Record Cmp Att Pct Yds Y/A TD Int Rtg Att Yds Avg TD
2023 Tennessee 5 1 1–0 28 45 62.2 314 7.0 2 0 135.5 20 71 3.6 3
2024 Tennessee 13 13 10–3 213 334 63.8 2,616 7.8 19 5 145.3 109 358 3.3 3
2025 UCLA 8 8 3–5 148 234 63.2 1,468 6.3 10 7 124.1 81 388 4.8 4
Career 26 22 14−8 389 613 63.5 4,398 7.2 31 12 136.5 210 817 3.9 10

Personal life

His brother, Madden Iamaleava, was a four-star QB recruit in the 2025 college football recruiting class who first committed to play for UCLA, but then flipped to Arkansas in December 2024.[31] On April 21, 2025, a day after Nico transferred to UCLA, Madden decided to follow his brother and also transfer to UCLA.[32]

References

  1. ^ "How to pronounce the name of Vols QB Nico Iamaleava". YouTube.com. WATE 6. December 27, 2023. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Brooks, Gabe (December 13, 2022). "Stacking the 5-star quarterbacks in the updated 2023 Top247". 247Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  3. ^ Evans, Luca (April 5, 2021). "Warren's Nicholaus Iamaleava brings toughness to quarterback play". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  4. ^ Huffman, Brandon (November 29, 2022). "2023 Polynesian High School Polynesian Player of the Year Finalists Announced". 247Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  5. ^ Fisher, Jeff (January 22, 2023). "Nico Iamaleava named 2022 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year". High School Football America. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  6. ^ Ragan, Zach (January 22, 2023). "Watch: Vols QB Nico Iamaleava gives heartfelt speech while accepting prestigious award". A to Z Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  7. ^ West, Marvin (January 23, 2023). "It isn't easy being Nico". Knox TN Today. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  8. ^ Kasabian, Paul (March 21, 2022). "5-Star QB Nicholaus Iamaleava Commits to Tennessee over Alabama, Oregon, More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  9. ^ Jeyarajah, Shehan (March 21, 2022). "Nicholaus Iamaleava commits to Tennessee: Vols land first five-star quarterback recruit since 2002". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  10. ^ Paschall, David (December 17, 2022). "Josh Heupel, Nick Saban voice different takes on players opting out of bowls". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  11. ^ Sparks, Adam (December 28, 2022). "Tennessee football quarterback update: Nico Iamaleava is Cade Klubnik in Orange Bowl practice and more". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  12. ^ Sparks, Adam (December 27, 2023). "Joe Milton opts out of Citrus Bowl; Nico Iamaleava will start for Tennessee football". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  13. ^ Van Haaften, Reece (December 27, 2023). "Joe Milton opts out of Citrus Bowl, Nico Iamaleava to start". WATE 6 On Your Side. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  14. ^ Rothman, Sam (January 1, 2024). "Nico Iamaleava leads Vols to Citrus Bowl win in first career start". WATE 6. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Smith, Craig (January 1, 2024). "Nico Iamaleavea immediately shows what Tennessee Vols' offense has been missing". A to Z Sports. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  16. ^ Sparks, Adam (January 1, 2024). "QB Nico Iamaleava named Citrus Bowl MVP as Tennessee football routs Iowa". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  17. ^ Smith, Kaiden (August 26, 2024). "Tennessee names Nico Iamaleava starting quarterback". On3. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
  18. ^ Rothman, Sam (August 31, 2024). "Nico Iamaleava sets Tennessee record as Vols dominate Mocs". WATE. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
  19. ^ Sparks, Adam (December 22, 2024). "Nico Iamaleava stats: Tennessee QB grade in CFP loss to Ohio State". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  20. ^ Nakos, Pete (April 10, 2025). "Tennessee and QB Nico Iamaleava in active contract negotiations ahead of 2025 season". On3. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  21. ^ Sparks, Adam (April 10, 2025). "Nico Iamaleava seeks new NIL deal as Tennessee QB ahead of transfer portal | Report". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  22. ^ Thamel, Pete; Low, Chris; Olson, Max (April 11, 2025). "Sources: Iamaleava no-shows Vols amid NIL talk". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  23. ^ Russo, Ralph; Ubben, David; Khan Jr., Sam (April 11, 2025). "Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee's $2 million QB, absent from practice amid NIL talks: Sources". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  24. ^ Thamel, Pete (April 12, 2025). "Sources: Tennessee moving on from starting QB Nico Iamaleava". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  25. ^ Bolch, Ben (April 20, 2025). "Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava commits to UCLA". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  26. ^ "Head Football Coach DeShaun Foster Relieved of Duties". UCLA. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  27. ^ "UCLA loses defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe in more fallout from 0-3 start". Los Angeles Times. September 17, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  28. ^ "UCLA offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri is leaving team in mutual parting of ways". Los Angeles Times. October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  29. ^ "'Embarrassing' loss at UCLA has Penn St. reeling". ESPN.com. October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  30. ^ "UCLA Football Produces Another Hit in 38-13 Win at Michigan State". UCLA. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
  31. ^ Lederman, Eli (December 4, 2024). "Sources: 4-star QB Iamaleava flips to Arkansas". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  32. ^ McNeill, Dylan (May 10, 2025). "Iamaleava QB drama will end with Madden committing to UCLA". UCLA Wire. USA Today. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
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