Nico Iamaleava, the former Tennessee quarterback, has publicly addressed his transfer to UCLA for the first time since his departure. Speaking at Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas, Iamaleava clarified that his decision was motivated by a desire to return home to Long Beach, California, and be closer to his family, rather than financial considerations. He described the move as “one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make,” emphasizing that reports suggesting a dispute over his Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation were “false reports” that made him feel “not comfortable in the position I was in” .
Iamaleava’s transfer to UCLA reunites him with his family and positions him to lead the Bruins’ football program under new head coach DeShaun Foster. Coach Foster expressed confidence in Iamaleava’s leadership and potential to revitalize the team’s performance.