Nico Iamaleava is already becoming the face of UCLA’s new era, and head coach Bob Chesney says the quarterback’s presence has shown up in a big way since he arrived on campus.
Iamaleava got to UCLA three weeks before preseason camp opened in 2025, and Chesney pointed to that early arrival as part of the reason the quarterback has started to settle into a leadership role. Chesney talked about Iamaleava’s growth in a Big Ten video released Friday, and the message from the coach was clear.
"There is no doubt he is the leader of this team."
That’s a notable turn for a player whose move to UCLA came with plenty of noise. Iamaleava left Tennessee in the summer of 2025 after a falling out that was tied to a reported name, image and likeness dispute. By the time he suits up in 2026, he’ll be playing for his third different coaching staff in as many seasons.
UCLA needs that leadership now more than ever. The Bruins are in the middle of a major roster overhaul, signing 20 players in their 2026 class and adding 43 transfers. Altogether, the team has turned over roughly 67 to 75 percent of the roster it had in 2025.
That kind of churn puts even more weight on the quarterback’s shoulders, especially after a 2025 season that went off the rails early. UCLA lost its first four games, then won three straight before dropping the final three games Iamaleava started. The season also included head coach DeShaun Foster being fired three games in.
Iamaleava’s numbers from 2025 show why UCLA is betting on him to steady things. He completed 64.4 percent of his passes for 1.9,28 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while also adding 505 rushing yards and four more scores.
The Big Ten also announced that Iamaleava, defensive back Cole Martin, linebacker Samuel Omosigho and Chesney will represent UCLA at Big Ten Media Days. Iamaleava is expected to be one of the biggest names in Chicago later this month, while Chesney, as a new head coach in the conference, should draw plenty of attention too.
There’s also a reason the buzz around Iamaleava hasn’t gone away. He helped Tennessee reach the College Football Playoff in 2024, showing he can lead an elite team. Before that, he was mostly a backup in 2023.
His pro outlook is already part of the conversation, too. The NFL Mock Draft Database currently projects Iamaleava as the 156th overall pick in 2027, while ESPN has him in its best of the rest category among quarterbacks in the 2027 NFL Draft class.
ESPN NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid said, "He has a natural throwing motion that can dissect and deliver... A long-striding athlete, Iamaleava...is capable of picking teams apart with his legs."
For now, though, UCLA’s focus is on what Iamaleava can do in 2026. He already chose to return to college despite being eligible for the NFL Draft, and he’ll have two years of eligibility remaining after next season. That leaves a major decision ahead, but first comes the chance to help reshape a Bruins team that has already changed dramatically around him.
And with Chesney never having a losing season as a head coach, UCLA is clearly hoping Iamaleava’s next chapter is the one that finally matches the promise that followed him out of high school.
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For UCLA fans, the best part may be the irony itself. The Odyssey is the Greeks journey home, while the Trojans are the side that loses the war, and that little detail did not escape the internet. The post is still sitting on the Southern Cal account despite the backlash, which only gives the whole thing a little more staying power for anyone across town enjoying the moment. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA May Have Found The Answer To Its Biggest Title Defense Hole
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One of the most encouraging pieces for UCLA is a familiar face. Elina Aarnisalo is back in Westwood after a season at North Carolina, where she grew into a more productive lead guard and gave the Bruins a player who already knows the program, the expectations and the pressure that comes with them. With Charlisse Leger-Walker gone, UCLA still has plenty to sort out, but Aarnisalo gives Close a real starting point as the Bruins try to piece together the next version of a championship team. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA May Have Finally Found The Defensive Voice It Needed
UCLAs search for a steadier defensive presence has led it to Sammy Omosigho, a linebacker whose path already suggests why the Bruins believe he can matter quickly. The Texas native arrived with the kind of pedigree that usually travels well, a highly regarded 2023 recruit who stacked up honors in high school before heading to Oklahoma, where he worked his way from special teams into a larger defensive job over three seasons.
What makes Omosigho especially relevant for UCLA is not just the rsum, but the role the Bruins need him to fill. This is a defense that has been looking for a true on-field voice at linebacker, someone who can help organize things in real time, and Omosighos progression in Norman hints at a player ready for that responsibility. Whether he can become the steadying force UCLA wants is the next question, but the fit is obvious enough to keep watching. [Read more 🡒]