The addition of Nico Iamaleava has made it much easier for DeShaun Foster and UCLA football to bring in transfers.

Nico Iamaleava’s transfer from the Tennessee Volunteers to UCLA Bruins didn’t just give the Bruins a much-needed quarterback; it also provided a significant boost to the program. The 20-year-old signal-caller’s arrival fundamentally shifted UCLA’s recruiting momentum and even the financial dynamics of how players are committing to Westwood.

Iamaleava transferred from Tennessee to UCLA in April. As a result of that move, former Appalachian State quarterback Joey Aguilar, who transferred to UCLA after the 2024 season, left the Bruins to join the Vols' quarterback room.