Nico Iamaleava officially signs with UCLA: Ex-Tennessee star QB heading back home amid NIL saga

Tennessee transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava has signed with UCLA, the school announced on Sunday. Iamaleava's transfer decision ends a significant couple of weeks for 247Sports' top-ranked player in the portal. Tennessee moved on from the Southern California native ahead of its April 13 spring game and the opening of the spring portal window, ending a high-stakes standoff over NIL contract negotiations.

Iamaleava also confirmed his commitment to the Bruins in a post on Instagram.

"My journey at UT has come to an end," Iamaleava wrote. "This decision was incredibly difficult, and truthfully, not something I expected to make this soon. But I trust God's timing, and I believe He's leading me where I need to be. Even though this chapter is ending, a new chapter has begun and I am committed to UCLA!"

Iamaleava sought a new deal from Tennessee worth $4 million annually, nearly double his original reported deal, per ESPN's Chris Low. Iamaleava's lucrative first deal represented a high-water mark in the early NIL era in college athletics, and his standoff over more money was a somewhat fitting, if not ironic, way for the two sides to part ways.

UCLA's basketball program added former New Mexico star Donovan Dent last month, and Iamaleava's addition marks the latest high-profile transfer portal prospect the school has landed in as many weeks. The price tag to land Dent — one of college basketball's most coveted transfers — was around $3 million, sources told CBS Sports' Isaac Trotter.

Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns during the 2024 campaign. He helped Tennessee reach the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff in his first season as a full-time starter last fall after spending the 2023 season as a backup to Joe Milton lll.

UCLA brought in App State quarterback Joey Aguilar this past offseason and he was projected as the starter heading into the fall before Iamaleava transferred in. The Bruins ranked 15th in yards per game (328.8) and No. 16 in points per game (18.4) among all Big Ten teams.

Iamaleava's younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, was previously committed to UCLA before flipping his commitment to Arkansas during the early signing period last December.

How we got here

Iamaleava's saga is one of the wildest storylines in the modern era of college football. Iamaleava and Tennessee reportedly went through "contract negotiations" ahead of the spring transfer portal window opening, but things deteriorated quickly after Iamaleava's absence ahead of Tennessee's final practice before its spring game. The next day word broke that Tennessee was moving on from its star quarterback.

"To the amazing people in Knoxville, thank you for embracing and uplifting me throughout my time there," Iamaleava wrote Sunday. "I'll be forever thankful for the support you showed me every step of the way and I'll always cherish the relationships I built there and the memories I created with my brothers. I believe with all my heart that I gave my all as a Volunteer. I'm truly grateful for the time I had at UT."

UCLA was viewed as one of the most logical landing spots due to its proximity to Iamaleava's home in Los Angeles and the fact that the Bruins needed a starting signal-caller.

Why this is worth the investment from UCLA

The addition of Iamaleava is the exact kind of swing UCLA needed to take this offseason. Despite the Tennessee baggage, players like Iamaleava don't grow on trees. He was one of the top recruits coming out of Southern California in 2023, and the upside is still there for him to be an elite quarterback at this level.

Iamaleava will be working closely with new UCLA offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri. The 36-year-old rising star in the coaching world spent last season as Indiana's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and played a key role in the development of Kurtis Rourke. Indiana finished No. 1 in scoring offense (41.3 points per game) and fourth in yards (426.4) among all Big Ten teams last season.

The Bruins ranked 15th in yards per game (328.8) and No. 16 in points per game (18.4) among all Big Ten teams. In short? Iamaleava is worth the investment after UCLA went 5-7 during the 2024 season.