Rice DL transfer Jalen Hargrove commits to UCLA

Rice defensive lineman Jalen Hargrove has committed to transfer to UCLA, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. As a redshirt senior entering the 2025 season, Hargrove is expected to have one year of eligibility remaining with the Bruins.

The 6-foot-4, 317-pound Hargrove has seen action in 19 total games over the past two seasons at Rice, contributing mostly on special teams during that time. He had one career tackle last season against Texas Southern.

Hargrove went to high school at Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, CT, where he was a three-star recruit, the No. 9 player in Connecticut and No. 152 defensive lineman in the 2021 class according to Rivals Industry Ranking, an equally weighted algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all three primary media services.

Hargrove’s commitment gives the Bruins 32 total transfers in its 2025 transfer class, which ranked 14th according to the On3 | Rivals Transfer Portal Team Rankings. Of course, that ranking his helped by the addition for Tennessee QB transfer Nico Iamaleava. UCLA had the nation’s 41st-ranked recruiting class of the 2025 cycle, according the Rivals Industry Team Ranking, after landing 21 commits.

Nico Iamaleava wants to bring a ‘championship culture’ to UCLA

UCLA has a new face under center in 2025 — Nico Iamaleava. The former Tennessee quarterback is coming off a College Football Playoff run with the Volunteers and has his sights set on the postseason at his new school.

He’s hoping the success he experienced in Knoxville in 2024 will translate to UCLA. That includes winning titles.

“The main thing for me is to bring a championship culture back to Westwood,” Iamaleava said at Big Ten Media Days on Thursday. “I hate losing. I’m a big-time winner — I want to win games. And that’s our main thing. Our main goals for this year is to bring championships back to Westwood.

“The coaches all preach that every day to us in the weight room and in the team room. I’m very excited for the opportunity … to represent UCLA.”

With more than 70 years removed from the last time UCLA has claimed a national title, Iamaleava’s claims are bold. However, that’s the type of confidence that a coach would want out of their QB1.

Iamaleava arrived at Tennessee with plenty of fanfare as a highly rated recruit. A Downey (Calif.) Warren product, he was a five-star prospect and the No. 6 overall player from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was also the No. 1 overall player his class.

— On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.