Nico Iamaleava Is Running It Back at UCLA - And That’s Big News for Bob Chesney’s Bruins
LOS ANGELES - Bob Chesney hasn’t wasted any time putting his stamp on UCLA football, and now he’s got his quarterback. Nico Iamaleava, the Bruins’ dual-threat centerpiece under center, announced Monday that he’s returning to Westwood for a second season - a major boost for Chesney as he begins building out his first roster in blue and gold.
“No place like home,” Iamaleava posted on Instagram. “Same vision.
Same goals. Same grind.
Locked in. Time to work!”
That’s the kind of message you want from your QB1 - focused, fired up, and all-in.
Iamaleava’s return gives UCLA continuity at the game’s most important position, and it gives Chesney a dynamic talent to build around. The 6-foot-4 quarterback from Long Beach stepped into the spotlight in 2025 after transferring from Tennessee, where a high-profile NIL saga ended with him trading Rocky Top for the Rose Bowl.
And once he got to Westwood, he didn’t waste time showing what he could do.
In 11 games, Iamaleava threw for 1,928 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His completion percentage - 64.4% - marked a career high, showing growth as a passer in a system that asked him to make plays both through the air and on the ground.
But it wasn’t just the arm that made him a threat. Iamaleava used his legs as a weapon all season long, rushing for 505 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 4.5 yards per carry.
He’s not the type to slide early, either. Iamaleava ran with purpose - and with that long stride chewing up turf, he made defenders pay when they took bad angles.
His breakout moment? That came in one of the wildest upsets of the season.
With UCLA still searching for its first win, Iamaleava lit up No. 7 Penn State in a 42-37 thriller.
He accounted for five total touchdowns - three on the ground, two through the air - and racked up 166 passing yards alongside 128 rushing yards. That performance didn’t go unnoticed.
Iamaleava swept the national weekly awards circuit, earning Maxwell Award Player of the Week, Davey O’Brien Quarterback of the Week, and Walter Camp National FBS Offensive Player of the Week honors.
That game didn’t just showcase his dual-threat ability - it showed his toughness, poise, and ability to rise in big moments. It was the kind of performance that puts a quarterback on NFL radars.
Now, as he heads into his redshirt junior season, Iamaleava will be learning his third offense under his third head coach in just 12 months. But there’s reason to believe this pairing with Chesney could be the most productive yet.
Chesney, who’s built his coaching résumé on maximizing dual-threat quarterbacks, most recently helped James Madison’s Alonza Barnett III rack up over 2,500 passing yards and more than 500 on the ground in 2025. That kind of system fits Iamaleava’s skill set like a glove. Chesney’s offenses are designed to keep defenses guessing - and when you’ve got a quarterback who can beat you with both the deep ball and a 20-yard scramble, the playbook opens up in a big way.
Let’s not forget: Iamaleava was once the No. 1 recruit in the country, per On3. The raw talent has always been there. Now, with a full offseason in Westwood, a coach who knows how to use him, and the keys to the offense firmly in his hands, he’s got a real shot to elevate his game - and his 2027 NFL Draft stock - in a major way.
For Chesney, getting Iamaleava back is more than just retaining a starter. It’s a statement. The Bruins are building something - and their quarterback is leading the charge.