Nico Iamaleava's 'Aura' Becoming UCLA's Confidence Catalyst

The star transfer quarterback is ready to lead his Bruins to a turnaround season.

Nov 30, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) walks into stadium just prior to the start of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at FirstBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Throughout a long offseason filled with conversation and anticipation around UCLA star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, there's a certain calmness he's entering the season with.

Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster admits he's still learning stuff about his signal-caller, the biggest being the confidence the Tennessee transfer carries that is bleeding into the locker room.

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava (8) tries to keep warm during during warm ups before the start of the NCAA college football playoff game against Ohio State on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. | Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

"Just his presence," Foster said during Monday's media availability on what impresses him about Iamaleava off the field. "Has a calm demeanor to himself and is just a leader. He has an aura around him that you can kind of, like, 'OK, he has confidence.'"

When you've been the topic of critique all offseason, like Iamaleava has, following his public dispute and departure from Tennessee in April, it may be surprising to learn that the redshirt sophomore isn't hearing all the noise.

How Nico Iamaleava Is Blocking Out the Noise

Jul 24, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images | Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

In a sit-down interview with Ashley Adamson and Yogi Roth during the B1G Network's behind-the-scenes of UCLA's training camp, Iamaleava discussed how he's blocking out the noise and worrying about what people who don't know him think about him.

"For the people in the building and guys that really know me and know who I am, a lot of the stuff in the outside world, I can't control," Iamaleava said. "But I can only control what I do on a day-to-day basis and how I carry myself around my teammates. My teammates know me and what I bring to the table, and [I] can't really focus on the outside world."

No matter how hard he tries, though, people will always be talking about Iamaleava ahead of the season, and the microscope will only grow larger once he takes his first snap in the blue and gold against Utah on Aug. 30.

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