UCLA quarterback named to prominent preseason award watch list

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UCLA's redshirt junior quarterback Nico Iamaleava was named to the 90th Maxwell Award watch list for his second year with the Bruins, according to the Maxwell Football Club.

The Maxwell Award is given to the Collegiate Player of the Year with the last recipient being former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was picked No. 1 overall by the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2026 NFL Draft. In the preseason watchlist, the Big Ten Conference leads all conferences with 17 nominees with the SEC following with 16 and the Big 12 and the ACC with 15 players each.

Iamaleava was named to the preseason award watch list last year and UCLA's young quarterback stood out as one of the most valuable players on the team, as he laid his body on the line, despite the Bruins putting together a less than ideal season.

The Bruins star ended the season with a 64.4 percent completion percentage for 1,928 passing yards and 13 touchdowns with 7 interceptions. He also compiled the most yards on the ground for the team with 505 rushing yards and ran in four more touchdowns.

Iamaleava will have to put together a much better season though as he and new head coach Bob Chesney attempt to bring UCLA back to relevancy with the likes of Big Ten quarterback's Oregon's Dante Moore and Ohio State's Julian Sayin standing in their way.

According to the Maxwell Football Club, the semifinalists will be named on Nov. 10 with the final three being narrowed down on Nov. 24. The winner will be announced on Dec. 10 at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Award Show.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA quarterback named to prominent preseason award watch list

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