Nico Iamaleava reveals biggest misconception about departure from Tennessee, transfer to UCLA

As spring practice wrapped up at Tennessee, Nico Iamaleava sent a shockwave across the college football world when he decided to enter the transfer portal. He later committed to UCLA, and he addressed the situation Thursday at Big Ten Media Days.

When asked about the biggest misconception about his transfer, Iamaleava downplayed the role of finances in his decision. His departure from Tennessee came after On3’s Pete Nakos reported active NIL negotiations with the school’s collective ahead of the spring game, but the former five-star recruit said family was the biggest reason he chose to leave.

A California native, Iamaleava cited the importance of having his family close by as he competes at UCLA. That, he said, was key in his decision.

“Family was the biggest thing to me.”

UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava answers a question from our @Tracy_McDannald about the misconception involving his departure from Tennessee this spring. pic.twitter.com/89SCIeA55W

— BruinBlitz (On3 | Rivals) (@UCLAOn3) July 24, 2025

“My decision to leave was extremely hard,” Iamaleava told a small group of reporters in Las Vegas. “One of the hardest decisions that I’ve ever had to make. Family was the biggest thing, to me. A lot of things about financial stuff, it was never that. It was me getting back home, closer to my family and playing at the highest level with my family’s support.

“In our Samoan culture, we’re always together. That was a very important thing for me.”

Iamaleava spent two years at Tennessee and was part of one of the biggest stories early in the NIL era. He signed a lucrative deal with Spyre Sports Group, which The Athletic reported could be worth more than $8 million over three years. On the field, Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2024 in his first season as the Vols’ starting quarterback.

Of course, Nico Iamaleava won’t be the only member of his family in UCLA’s QB room. His brother, Madden, is also with the Bruins after initially signing with Arkansas out of the 2025 cycle. The two are now closer to home by their family. Their mother, Marleinna, is a breast cancer survivor.

Iamaleava said not only competing closer to his family, but also with his brother, makes his transfer to UCLA even more special. Now, his focus is turning toward battling on the field.

“That was a big factor for me, coming back home and being closer to my mom,” Iamaleava told Dave Revsine on Big Ten Network. “Just my parents and my family in general. We’re all competing at the highest level at UCLA. Once I got that opportunity, I couldn’t take it for granted.”