Well, this might leave you wondering if there is any fault in Nico Iamaleava’s star? We are all aware of the big NIL hoopla that the quarterback had with Josh Heupel and Tennessee. Closing his Vols chapter, he hopped onto DeShaun Foster’s wagon. While the UCLA Bruins looked happy to land the former Tennessee star, they now have to pay a cost. The Bruins’ quarterback room got thinner as they started losing one quarterback after the other to the transfer portal. Now they have no other option than to sit back and watch one of their lost star finding a new home. As if the Joey Aguilar snub was not enough for Foster to handle.
The 4-star recruit and the No. 17 class of 2024 quarterback, Dermaricus Davis, rode an unconventional path to UCLA. The 6’5” and 187-pounder first signed with the Washington Huskies coming out of Etiwanda High School. However, it took Davis 12 days to jump into the portal. After leaving the spring practice midway, he ended up at Foster’s UCLA, returning to his home Southern California roots. But it did not take him long to take another big leap. On May 23, the former 4-star quarterback Davis, aka MarMar, confirmed he is transferring from UCLA to the University of Hawaii football team. “Yes, I am,” Foster’s ex-quarterback told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Wanna know about the time gap from his first stop at Washington to Hawaii?
Only 13 months. Back in Jedd Fisch’s program, Davis left since he possibly was not willing to play behind then fellow freshman Demond Williams Jr., who was the back-up to senior Will Rogers at the time. Initially, Foster’s program gave him that assurance that he would get to soak in all the limelight. Last season in the Bruins, he spent among a handful of QBs playing behind Ethan Garbers, another former UW signal-caller who has since graduated. But Foster came up with plans that rained on Davis’ parade. The Iamaleavas took their grand entry. UCLA not only signed Tennessee transfer Nico Iamaleava, but they took that extra step to land his brother, Madden Iamaleava, from Arkansas. So, where did it leave Davis?
A year ago, he had shown his USP flexing his enticing length and arm strength during UW spring ball. As he had a hard time with decision making, he fell behind his fellow freshman, Williams. Getting the third-teamer tag, he received minimal scrimmage snaps. With this, he tapped the ‘SWAP’ button. Now it’s obvious that Foster is going to crown Nico as his QB1, and again, Davis would have gone third-wheeling in the UCLA squad. So, he again hits the button. But this time, who gave him the courage?
As Dermaricus Davis turns the page, will this be his final chapter?
Davis might have followed Aguilar’s footsteps. Back in April, there were too many things happening at the same time in Foster’s squad. While the fans were still in two minds about why their head coach took someone with a “greedy” tag, they lost one of their gems. On April 29, Aguilar declared his commitment to Tennessee. Just to sprinkle salt on Foster’s wounds and rip the band-aid off Nico’s gash.
This was followed by a note. “I’m looking forward to being a part of the traditions, the fans, and the legacy of winning at Tennessee. I’m ready to get to work, compete at the highest level and build something special with my teammates and coaches. I can’t wait to get to Rocky Top! I’m ready to Give My All for Tennessee.” So, this might have left Davis with a feeling, ‘if Aguilar can, why can’t I?’ And what more does he want when the new program is already giving him special treatment? “Just the environment, (and) the coaches making me feel at home. And the real brotherhood. I could tell when I played against them last year. That’s it. It’s the brotherhood and the coaches making it feel like home.”
Dermaricus Davis made his decision after taking a UH-sponsored recruiting trip last weekend (May 17-18). Already, a guilt must be pricking the young chap from within. He must be regretting his decision to leave Washington. After all, had Davis stayed in Montlake, he likely would be backing up Williams and groomed to take over should the incumbent become injured or leave early for the pros. But what’s done is done. Maybe, just maybe, Hawaii is where Davis finally unpacks for good.
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