UCLA: UCLA in driver’s seat during negotiations with Nico Iamaleava as steep $4M demand continues to be a roadblock

UCLA might be in the mix for Nico Iamaleava, but they’re not flinching at his reported $4 million NIL demand. The former Tennessee quarterback officially entered the NCAA transfer portal on Wednesday with a “do not contact” tag.

It signaled conversations with programs like UCLA were already well underway. But as things stand, the Bruins appear firmly in the driver’s seat, at their price point.

Iamaleava, who led Tennessee to its first College Football Playoff appearance, is reportedly seeking a blockbuster NIL deal after his freshman season. But UCLA isn’t biting.

According to On3’s Peter Nakos, the Bruins are “holding strong” on a significantly lower offer, and they have reason to do so — a unique connection with the Iamaleava family.

Expand Tweet

Nico’s younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, recently flipped his commitment from UCLA to Arkansas on signing day. However, Nico still holds UCLA in high regard.

“UCLA was a great fit because it was close to home and we love the staff there,” Iamaleava said in a prior interview.

The $4M dream might be dead, but if Nico wants a fresh start close to home, UCLA could still be his best — and maybe only — realistic landing spot.

Also read: Despite Nico Iamaleava’s $4M demand, Cam Newton believes his exit has nothing to do with money

CFB analyst gives his take on Nico Iamaleava situation

Paul Finebaum didn't pull punches on Iamaleava’s NIL saga. The longtime ESPN college football analyst weighed in on "McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning," warning college programs to tread lightly around the quarterback.

“I would stay away from him. Buyer beware,” Finebaum said bluntly. “It’s not even Nico—it’s Team Nico. There’s a toxic feeling around this player.”

Finebaum acknowledged Nico’s game-changing talent but had questions about the baggage.

“Everywhere he goes, there’s going to be this halo—‘He held out. He’s a problem child,’” Finebaum said.

The question now? Which school is willing to roll the dice on college football’s most polarizing QB of the offseason?

Also read: James Franklin issues clear message to NCAA as he declines to delve into the Nico Iamaleava controversy

About the author

Prasen is an NFL/College Sports analyst at Sportskeeda. A B.Tech/Civil Engineering graduate, he has two years of experience writing content.

For Prasen, providing historical angles relevant to the story is important, as it can give the reader useful information and help them relate it to the present. He thinks this keeps the content unique rather than just a bland reporting of facts. Prasen believes in fact-checking and researching relevant information as per the headline and context. He hates clickbait or misleading the reader.

A fan of the Colorado Buffaloes since Deion Sanders took over as coach, Prasen expects Coach Prime to make the Buffs a national championship contender. Nick Saban is his favorite all-time coach, while Baker Mayfield and Caitlin Clark are his favorite players. Prasen considers Vince Young coming up clutch for the Texas Longhorns in the dying seconds of the 2017 national championship game against the USC Trojans as the most iconic moment of all time.

Per Prasen, College Sports is competitive and garners attention but it is just the beginning, where a student-athlete can show their skills and potential to make it to the big leagues. When he is not researching and writing, Prasen’s hobbies include pursuing higher studies and playing sports.

Know More

Tennessee Volunteers Fan? Check out the latest Tennessee Volunteers depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

Edited by Akshay Saraswat