So, word’s been circulating on Nico Iamaleava’s possible new home. All signs are pointing to UCLA and apparently, it’s not about the money, his camp said. But let’s be real. There’s more to this than just playbooks and palm trees.
So let’s rewind a bit — Nico Iamaleava reportedly wanted a bump in his NIL deal. When Tennessee didn’t blink, his family apparently used the spring portal as leverage. Per ESPN’s Chris Low, he was pushing for a $4M NIL renegotiation. And now, he’s in the portal for real and now UCLA is the latest buzz. And this is where things get messy and why DeShaun Foster better be on high alert.
You see, UCLA has serious gaps on offense. It’s shaky. SEC Mike voiced Athlon Sports’ Steven Lassen’s take on That SEC Football Podcast on April 16. “Steven’s not a hot taker, he’s not a Tennessee fan,” he said. “I said tell me about this UCLA offense. He said okay, if they’re worried about scheme, check out this UCLA offensive line. He says it’s maybe the worst in the Big Ten.” That coming from a level-headed guy carries much weight. And there’s legit reasons.
“First time offensive coordinator, never called plays,” Mike said. Yeah, Tino Sunseri, the new Bruins OC and QBs coach has promises. He developed QBs like Kurtis Rourke at Indiana and Cole Johnson at James Madison. But this is his first shot calling plays solo. Add in a broken line and it’s a legit concern. Then there’s the personal drain. UCLA lost its top rusher in junior RB T.J. Harden. This dude had a solid year averaging 4.1 yards per carry and contributed two TDs in 2024. And that was with help.
Now, Sunseri’s the new guy in DeShaun Foster’s offense that hasn’t proven it can hold up. Mike added, “Four of their top five receivers are gone” including Logan Loya and J. Michael Sturdivant. The defense isn’t sunshine and rainbows either. The edge rusher room is also basically empty after Choe Bryant-Strother hit the portal. “So if they’re picking UCLA because of the offense, that may be even a worse decision than to pull all these shenanigans they did at Tennessee,” Mike added. And yeah, his co-host isn’t as subtle as him.
Nico Iamaleava and his family’s reasoning gets blasted
FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd reported, “Nico Iamaleava is going to UCLA. Family still claims it’s NOT about the . It’s about the Vol football offense.” And you know Cousin Shane never keeps his emotions undercover. He straight-up blasted the response in a sarcastic tone saying, ““We’re going because of the offense, has nothing to do with money. You know, it’s like me going to China One Buffet. I’m not there because of customer service. I’m there because it’s the only Chinese buffet that’s around me. That’s where Nico’s at. UCLA is the only opportunity he has and doesn’t even really have it.” And he’s not wrong. This feels more like a desperate move rather than a calculated one. And blaming Tennessee’s offense to keep themselves in good light? Come on!
Josh Heupel’s team ranked third in the SEC in total offense last year with 447 yards average, second in PPG with 35.7. Meanwhile, the Bruins went 14th in the Big Ten in YPG (328.8) while going 16th with 18.3 PPG. So yeah, a massive drop-down. And also, he won’t be getting what he left Tennessee in the hopes of getting. As Pete Nakos reported — “Reported earlier today for @On3sports that Nico’s deal will be under $4 million, especially without a competitive marketplace. Continues to trend that way.”
So yeah, DeShaun Foster got a massive rebuild on his hands. And if Nico Iamaleava is going to be the centerpiece, he better hope this swing pays off.
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