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Fans, media shred Nico Iamaleava family claiming transfer is about Tennessee offense, not money
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Nico Iamaleava appears to be off to UCLA.
The news broke via a surprising source: Colin Cowherd. College football insider Bruce Feldman reported minutes later that Iamaleava is expected to become a Bruin via transfer.
Cowherd got the college football social media community talking not just for stating that he was told Iamaleava was headed for UCLA, but also a claim he shared from the quarterback’s family: the transfer was about the offense, not money.
I am told — moments ago — Nico Iamaleava is going to UCLA. Family still claims it’s NOT about the It’s about the @Vol_Football offense. I was not told what the Bruins are paying.
— Colin Cowherd (@colincowherd) April 16, 2025
Fans and media members aren’t buying the claim from the Iamaleava family, with many pointing to UCLA statistics from last season. Here’s a small sample of what’s being said on social media:
UCLA offensive scouting report via @AthlonSteven
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) April 16, 2025
"If they are actually worried about scheme/offense…UCLA’s OLine is iffy (maybe one of the worst in the Big Ten) + 1st time OC & tons of turnover at RB & WR"
"Top 2 rushers gone & 4 out of top 5 receiving targets departed"
https://t.co/Df4zT2s2ir
Tennessee averaged 35.7 points per game last season.
— Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson) April 16, 2025
UCLA averaged 18.4 points per game. https://t.co/EhlBidohiq
UCLA was 118th nationally in total offense last year. Maybe it’s a better fit for Nico’s talents? https://t.co/uEoxoRyFxa
— Russell Smith (@Russell___Smith) April 16, 2025
In 2024, UCLA's offense was third from LAST in the BIG 10 averaging 18.3 pts/gm. Fourth from LAST avg, 328.8 yds per game.
— Jayson Swain (@SwainEvent) April 16, 2025
Tennessee's offense scheme has been the same since 2021.
But ok https://t.co/UE4XjqN0Jr
Leaving Tennessee "because of the offense" just to land at UCLA is like leaving NASA for Tim Hortons because you want to be an astronaut.
— Tony Gerdeman (@TonyGerdeman) April 16, 2025
Tennessee’s offense was 15th nationally. UCLA’s was 118th… https://t.co/gDeEgi3FUd
— Chad Withrow (@TheChadWithrow) April 16, 2025
Claiming the transfer is over a Josh Heupel offense and then going to UCLA is why the entire country is laughing at Nic and Nico Iamaleava. https://t.co/dxIPHTD7VM
— Shanks (@Shanks205_) April 16, 2025
Aaaah yes, it wasn’t about the money, it was about Tennessee’s offense!
— Brett Edgerton (@EditorEdge) April 16, 2025
*checks notes*
Last year UCLA was 118th nationally in total offense and 123rd in scoring offense https://t.co/8Nx6aGc0kv
UCLA's offense is not better than Tennessee's… https://t.co/5vj4BJS0QU
— Olivia Cleary (@LivCleary) April 16, 2025
If you’re Iamaleava’s camp, this is the only card you can play at this point.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) April 16, 2025
Whether it’s true or false, it’s the best choice because it’s the only choice.
You could of course be silent, but that’s not gonna happen. https://t.co/a7TyhqTIyi
On the surface, it appears Iamaleava could have a difficult path to offensive success at UCLA in 2025. The college football world will be watching to see how things work out for him back home in California.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
