DeShaun Foster reveals timeline for Nico Iamaleava integration at UCLA

Nico Iamaleava‘s decision to transfer away from Tennessee was one that shocked the college football world. It wasn’t long before it was reported that he’d be heading back to his home state to play for the UCLA Bruins for the 2025 season.

Iamaleava, along with his brother and fellow UCLA QB transfer, Madden, were in attendance at the Bruins’ spring showcase on Saturday. After the event, head coach DeShaun Foster revealed that Nico Iamaleava, the presumed starting QB for UCLA next season, is set to join the team immediately upon the end of the Tennessee spring semester. He doesn’t expect much of an adjustment period once he’s on campus.

“As soon as he’s done with school, we’ll be able to start learning online or virtually with our coaches and everything,” Foster revealed. “You know, he’s played quarterback at a high level. When you’re switching teams, that’s not the hardest thing to do. It’s mostly just figuring out if we call something that they already call. So it’s not like we really have to teach him the whole playbook. It’s more of him figuring out the calls, when we call something [and if that’s a play] that he already had.

“Him being an intelligent kid, has a high GPA — he’s smart on and off the field. We’re just looking forward to just getting the opportunity to teach him.”

Final exams at the University of Tennessee begin on May 9 through May 14. Once that’s finished, Iamaleava is free to practice will his new program, Foster said.

Moreover, Foster noted that he hasn’t feel the need to send him a playbook or any other study materials since his commitment to the Bruins. Foster expects Iamaleava to catch up on to their offensive schemes quickly upon his official arrival in LA.

What UCLA will be getting is a quarterback fresh off leading his former team to a first-round appearance in the College Football Playoff. Though Tennessee would lose to eventual national champions, Ohio State, Iamaleava appeared ready to lead the Volunteers to similar success in 2025 until reported disputes in contract negotiations led to Iamaleava entering the NCAA transfer portal.

The move changes the potential outlook of the 2025 season for the Bruins. Before Iamaleava’s commitment, UCLA’s expected win total was set at 4.5. Now, they’re about to welcome a playoff-experienced quarterback to its roster ahead of its second year in the Big Ten Conference. They’ll kick the 2025 regular season off against Utah inside the Rose Bowl.