Apr 20, 2025, 05:36 PM ET
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava formally introduced his switch to UCLA by the use of a social media put up Sunday.
“My adventure at UT has come to an finish,” he wrote on Instagram. “This resolution used to be extremely tough, and in truth, no longer one thing I anticipated to make this quickly. However I agree with God’s timing, and I imagine He is main me the place I want to be.
“Even supposing this bankruptcy is finishing, a brand new bankruptcy has begun and I’m dedicated to UCLA!”
Iamaleava used to be a very talked-about recruit who led Tennessee to the Faculty Soccer Playoff final season. He used to be No. 1 in ESPN’s switch portal ratings and straight away provides UCLA probably the most best-known avid gamers within the game upon his arrival. The Bruins are coming off a 5-7 debut season through trainer DeShaun Foster.
Iamaleava, a five-star prospect from Lengthy Seashore, California, used to be recruited through UCLA out of highschool. His more youthful brother, Madden Iamaleava, dedicated to UCLA out of highschool however modified his dedication at the morning of signing day and signed with Arkansas.
The ones recruitments gave each side various familiarity and the power to probably transfer briefly.
Iamaleava handed for two,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions in his first season as a starter, however in 9 video games towards SEC combatants and Ohio State within the playoff, he threw for greater than 200 yards most effective two times.
Tennessee’s offense completed No. 9 within the convention in scoring with 25.0 issues in keeping with sport in SEC play. The Volunteers’ offense used to be No. 1 in dashing and No. 11 in passing in league play.
UCLA is coming off a season by which it completed No. 14 in scoring offense and No. 12 in general offense in Giant Ten play.
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Iamaleava used to be incomes $2.4 million at Tennessee beneath the contract he signed with Spyre Sports activities Crew, the Tennessee-based collective, when he used to be nonetheless in highschool. The deal would have paid him within the $10 million vary altogether had he stayed 4 years at Tennessee.
Tennessee trainer Josh Heupel introduced final week after the Volunteers’ spring sport that this system used to be shifting ahead with out Iamaleava after he ignored apply and conferences April 11. He hadn’t alerted somebody at the crew and used to be unresponsive in a while.
Heupel thanked Iamaleava and known as the placement unlucky, however added, “There is no one larger than the Energy T, and that incorporates me.”
Iamaleava, a emerging redshirt sophomore, formally entered the switch portal Wednesday with a do-not-contact tag.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel contributed to this document.
