If the name Iamaleava rings a bell, it is because Madden Iamaleava recently spurned the UCLA Bruins for Arkansas just four months ago. But now, sources familiar with Bruins football tell LAFB Network that UCLA is pursuing Madden’s older brother, Nico Iamaleava, who is currently renegotiating his NIL deal with the Tennessee Volunteers.
UCLA Bruins Rumored To Be In The Mix For Former 5-Star QB
On Thursday, On3’s Pete Nakos reported that Tennessee and Iamaleava “are in active negotiations on a new NIL deal.”
“In a move that many around the program expected, On3 has learned that Nico Iamaleava and Tennessee are in active negotiations on a new NIL deal ahead of the 2025 season,” Nakos wrote.
The UCLA Bruins were active in recruiting the Downey, CA native as one of the first schools to offer him a a scholarship.
The landscape of college football has undergone a significant transformation, and even with a reported existing NIL deal valued between “$2.2 and $2.5 million,” the evolving market dynamics have further elevated the perceived value of certain players. In this context, Nakos recently explored the potential scenario of this 20-year-old athlete entering the spring transfer portal, a move that could allow him to explore opportunities, including the UCLA Bruins
“It remains unclear if those negotiations will impact Iamaleava’s decision regarding the spring transfer portal, which opens next week,” Nakos added.
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It is not clear what Iamaleava is seeking, but Arch Manning has set the high water mark with a deal totaling $6.5 million in total and a $4.1 million roster value, according to On3. Iamaleava is currently the 9th highest-paid college football player in the country.
The source declined to share specifics but added Iamaleava is looking for “crazy money.”
Making the UCLA Bruins job more difficult, “Sources have indicated that Nico Iamaleava is happy at Tennessee and has a strong relationship with head coach Josh Heupel,” Nakos stated. “The Vols are trying to finalize a new contract before Saturday’s Orange-White spring game.”
Despite their first-round exit in the College Football Playoff in December, the 2024 season marked a significant achievement for the Tennessee Volunteers football program. Their final record of 10-3 represented one of their most successful campaigns in the past two decades, as it was only the third time in that span that the Volunteers reached the ten-win mark.
A key factor in Tennessee’s success was Iamaleava. The former five-star recruit, according to 247Sports, demonstrated considerable talent and potential in his first season as the primary signal-caller, throwing for an impressive 2,616 yards with 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions over the course of the year. His emergence as a dynamic playmaker provided a strong foundation for the Volunteers’ offensive success.