UCLA head coach Bob Chesney drops strong quote about former Vols QB Nico Iamaleava that has folks in college football taking notice

UCLA head coach Bob Chesney drops strong quote about former Vols QB Nico Iamaleava that has folks in college football taking notice

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UCLA head coach Bob Chesney drops strong quote about former Vols QB Nico Iamaleava that has folks in college football taking notice
Tennessee Vols football
Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava is entering his second season with the UCLA Bruins. Iamaleava spent two seasons at Tennessee before landing at UCLA.

UCLA Bruins head coach Bob Chesney made it clear this week how he views starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s abilities on the field.

Chesney, who was hired as UCLA’s head coach earlier this offseason, said that Iamaleava is a player that everyone looks to as a leader. He also said that Iamaleava, who spent the first two seasons of his college career with the Tennessee Vols, is as electric as any player in college football.

"Everybody looks to him as a leader, and I think he needs to understand that," said Chesney on The Jim Rome Show. "He loves this game, though. He is passionate about this game. He doesn't stop. His mouth doesn't stop running when he makes a play on the defense. They don't stop yelling back at him, and it's just a fun environment to be in when people truly love playing this game.

"This kid can do it all. He could push the ball vertically downfield. When it's time to pull the ball down and run, he is as electric as any quarterback right now in college football. And, I'm looking for a really bright future for this year for him."

Iamaleava didn’t put up gaudy numbers during his time at Tennessee, but he flashed his elite potential numerous times in 2024 while helping the Vols reach the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history.

It’ll be interesting to see if Iamaleava can put it all together this fall and enjoy a breakout season with the Bruins — there’s no doubt that the former five-star recruit has the talent to be a weekly fixture on highlight reels.

Iamaleava and the Bruins will open the 2026 season on the road on September 5 against California.

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