Ohio State football prepared to face UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava's running game again
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Ohio State football last faced UCLA over two decades ago, but it’s only been 10 months since the Buckeyes matched up against Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
Iamaleava spent the previous two years with Tennessee, playing his final game for the Vols during their 42-17 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoffs first round.
Although OSU was victorious, the Buckeyes got a taste of Iamaleava’s ability to run the ball. The 21-year-old finished the playoff matchup with 47 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
“He played tough in the playoff game here,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. “And I’m watching him play the last few weeks, and man, he’s physical. He runs hard, he takes some shots and he keeps coming back. He’s a competitor and I’ve got a lot of respect for him.”
Since Iamaleava transferred to UCLA in the offseason, he’s emerged as one of the Big Ten’s best running quarterbacks.
He has 96 carries for 474 yards and averages almost 5 yards per rush. Iamaleava also has a career-high four rushing touchdowns this season.
Though the Bruins are just 3-6 this season, and the Buckeyes’ defense has gotten stronger against the run, allowing just 82.9 rushing yards per game, Ohio State is treating Iamaleava as a dangerous threat when they meet on Nov. 15.
“He’s had an offseason to get better and better, just like we did,” Ohio State defensive end Eddrick Houston said. “So, we can’t base him off where he was at Tennessee; we’ve got to watch film and collect data on him right now.”
In the Big Ten, the only quarterback with more rushing yards than Iamaleava is Washington’s Demond Williams Jr., whom the Buckeyes faced in September.
Ohio State defeated Washington 24-6 on the road and found success in containing Williams. On 20 rushing attempts, he recorded -28 yards, a season low for the sophomore.
“I don’t like to compare him to the Washington quarterback, Houston said. “Because Nico (Iamaleava) and him have two different strengths and weaknesses. But you’ve also got to think Nico’s a great player. He’ll take hits, but he’ll get back up and do his thing. So, we just got to be aware of him on his feet.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State faces UCLA’s Nico Iamaleava for second time in a year
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