Nico Iamaleava explains why he left Tennessee for UCLA

Las Vegas – Wearing glasses with a horn, a light blue suit with a UCLA reverse pin and tanned wing berries, Nico Iamaleava moved to his seat on a raised platform in front of around 30 journalists.

“How’s everyone?” The new quarter of the Bruins asked with casualness inside the center of the Congress Center late Thursday afternoon, giving no indication that it was the most pressure that he had faced since an Ohio attacking defense dismissed him four times when opening the playoffs of university football.

These journalists were almost as implacable. For more than 25 minutes in the last day of the Big Ten media, they dotted Iamaleava with questions about his decision to leave Tennessee on the eve of her spring game for a program with a smaller pedigree, inciting the quarter-arre of the UCLA Joey Aguilar to take the place of Iamaleava in what was essentially a university football exchange.

What was Iamaleava’s motivation to make its movement? Is his dissatisfaction with the name, image and resemblance of Tennessee a factor? Did he have to take a salary reduction to come to the UCLA? How was it to manage the benefits of fans of Jilted Tennessee?

While not offering many details, Iamaleava patiently committed all the questions, the native of southern California saying that he was motivated by the desire to play for a high -level program of his family in Long Beach.

“In the end,” said the 6-foot-6-inch quarter to a small group of journalists based in Los Angeles earlier in the afternoon, “it made me want to be back home, you know, be back home next to my family while competing at the highest level.”

Iamaleava pinned the calendar of his departure from Tennessee on “false reports” on the financial requirements which “made me not feel comfortable in the position in which I was. But, you know, at the back of my head, I always wanted to go home and be closer to my mother, be closer to my father. ” Tennessee should pay Iamaleava more than $ 2 million to play for volunteers this season.

In decline to discuss his new Nile agreement at the UCLA, Iamaleava said he was focused on football and academics while trying to rekindle a program that has not won a conference championship since 1998.

“The realistic expectation for us,” said Iamaleava, “is to bring the championships back to Westwood and, you know, the first day I entered the locker room, I felt that all guys there, that they have a chip on their shoulders and that they wanted to go there and prove people.”

Iamaleava will have to do so by carrying a new number after attempts to obtain his favorite number 8 – retired in honor of Troy Aikman – failed, leaving him with No. 9. He said that he would proudly carry the number to represent his seven brothers and sisters and two parents whom he has credited for his humble nature.

One of these brothers and sisters is now a teammate. The first-year quarter of the first year Madden Iamaleava, who verbally committed to the UCLA before signing with the Arkansas, overthrew his allegiance to the Bruins in the spring after his older brother decided to return home. Depending on how he behaves in the training camp, Madden could become the best backup of Nico.

“I think he is ready, guy,” said Nico about his brother. “My little brother was a bonus on my part, you know, for him to go home with me. And just be a helping hand for him in everything he needs, I think, was the greatest thing for me. ”

If everything goes as planned, recognized Nico, his stay at the UCLA will be short. If the Bruins win a lot of matches and Iamaleava is also established as a hope of the NFL, the second year student of Redshirt will pass after this last university season.

“It’s a year when you know, I’m really trying to go out after,” said Iamaleava. “So, you know, I’m going to give everything to the UCLA, and, you know, if I have the year I want, you know, I want to go out.”

Everything about Iamaleava’s stay could have an accelerated sensation. He said he had received the offensive game book after signing in April and had participated in training managed by players since his arrival on campus in June, quickly impressive his new teammates with not only his talent but also his meaning.

“It is good to look at people,” said second Jonjon Vaughns about Iamaleava’s ability to deceive a defense, “and his arm is big, it’s powerful.”

There will be no relief in a training camp which starts next Wednesday in Costa Mesa since the UCLA opens the season exactly a month later against UTAH on August 30 at Rose Bowl. The staff of the force have already provided Iamaleava an indication of the high expectations that he will face on the ground.

“I have never been pushed like that by staff before,” said Iamaleava, “so I’m delighted to go to work for these guys.”

The appellant “a funny challenge”, Iamaleava said he was trying to quickly absorb a pro -style offense which he described as “a little more condensed training” than what he led in Tennessee. The chance to play for the offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri, who has an immediate story of success with new quarters, has invigorated Iamaleava.

“He’s a high energy guy,” said Iamaleava about Sunseri, “and I wanted to go and play for him the first day I met him.”

Adduant his entire body upon reception, Iamaleava said he had already developed good chemistry with Kwazi Gilmer, Mikey Matthews, Ezavier Staples and Titus Mokiao-Aitimalala. He got to know the offensive line editors thanks to an outing of Bowling which also included the quarters.

“He’s a great person,” said Law Garrett Digiorgio right tackle. “He has a good heart, and he really cares.”

Not always. Iamaleava said he had settled social media when he left Tennessee, protecting himself from vitriol. He found comfort in video games such as NBA 2K25 and UFC.

“I played a lot of video games with my friends and cousins, guy, and you know, it really didn’t pay attention,” he said. “Sometimes I had no idea [what was happening]; My cousins came to tell me about things they would see and I said to myself: “I don’t care”. So, you know, I think a lot of it comes with it, you know, protecting your peace. “”

Later, when he got up from the platform and thanked the journalists, Iamaleava appeared entirely Zen. After all speculation about his future, he will have the last word in the field.