In an era where NIL money talks louder than tradition, Nico Iamaleava’s holdout at Tennessee has become an example for all. Within 72 hours, Nico’s camp went from asking for a double of his NIL deal to being stranded for good. Many insiders now believe that this viral public divorce was just the first of what could become a trend, a domino effect if you will. But where Nico is concerned, was this move really the best one, especially considering that he wants to be on the professional grounds soon?

As for the NCAA programs, we know not all are in favor of the bidding war NIL payouts have started. They have not kept it a secret either. But enrolling into a new system before the NIL era, unless it was for a solid reason like the team productivity or the coaches, was neither a favored option nor a possible one. But in recent years, it has been dominated more than not by the money, and as it turns out, NFL for one might be in much more favor. Let’s take the example of the first overall pick this year Cam Ward. The QB hopped three programs in his five years in the NCAA. While this may have been a problematic situation for the squads he left, it was always a benefit for the ones he went to. And why not?

He brought in experience playing various schools, proved his adaptability to new programs in a very short time, and built his resume with the expertise of playing for different coaches with varying playbooks. You see where NFL is okay with it all? That’s right, the NFL has moved on from the old narrative of punishing transfers. Scouts have evolved, just like the game. Today’s QB carousel isn’t a red flag; it’s a badge of survival. In fact, many insist that him moving to different schools may have been the very reason why he got his name called as the first pick by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. So, when it comes to Nico’s chances at NFL, well, we have an eye-opening twist by Rivals analyst Adam Breneman.

Breneman noted, “There’s been so much negativity about Nico Iamaleava transferring from Tennessee. But here’s the reality: NFL team do not care that Nico transferred. They don’t give a s—. hat narrative is completely outdated. Scouts care more about how you adapt when you go through change and adversity in your career. Everyone has changed. Everyone makes mistakes. How do you adapt to it?

“Just take a look at the past two draft classes. Four of the six quarterbacks taken in the first round last year were transfers. Cam Ward went to three schools, he was picked number one in the draft. That doesn’t happen if he stays at Washington State, let alone Incarnate Ward where he started his career. In last week’s draft, every top quarterback on the big board transferred schools at one point. One NFL scout said, quote, ‘Questioning a player’s loyalty and competitive nature has become a little antiquated.’ I agree. Teams know players are navigating a broken system in college.

“Rams GM Les Snead said, quote, ‘Players who can bounce around and learn new systems and still play just as fast—that’s an added bonus for us.’ That’s the right way to be looking at it if you’re an NFL team. If Nico shines at UCLA, the NFL will love this move. Not question.” 

No doubt, if you can learn a new playbook, win over a new locker room, and still spin it with zip, that’s gold for NFL. QBs are the ones who can drop into a new offense midyear and still sling touchdowns by October. These transfers are looked upon as more matured players going into the NFL because leveling up is not as much of a culture shock anymore. And in Nico’s case, he has a lot to prove if he wants to build his college career and draft stocks up.

Nico’s camp asking for $4M/ year evaporated into air. The Vols giving $2.4M did too. And when Iamaleava returned to his native place, he reportedly lost half of what he was already going to get at Knoxville. So tragedy is certainly there. What’s worse is that the findings opened a new can of worms that put Nico as a $1M/ year prospect, much lower than what he was already getting. So the chip on the shoulder? He’s got it. And now it is in his hands what he wants to do with it.

In his final season as a Volunteer, Nico put up 2,616 yards for 19 TDs with 5 interceptions. Clearly, he wasn’t the crop of the cream, not even close to it. But entering a new school, with a new coach and a new lineup, he has more opportunities, of course, as long as he ignores how the offensive line of the Bruins is much worse than what he got at Tennessee.

But so far, the ripple effect of Nico’s looming arrival at the Bruins has hit hard for DeShaun Foster.

UCLA QB room gets thinner

Dermaricus Davis is now expected to enter the transfer portal, per CBS Sports. Robert McDaniel is also on his way out. That’s two QBs headed for the exits as the Bruins prepare to bring in not just Nico but also his brother, Madden Iamaleava, through the spring portal. It’s a full-on house cleaning in the QB room in Westwood, with HC DeShaun Foster watching his depth chart go from crowded to chaotic in the blink of an eye.

And if that weren’t enough, Foster didn’t just lose two. He lost three. Yes, a third QB has hit the open market amid the fallout, turning what was once a competitive position group into a high-stakes experiment built around a single high-profile player. Nico’s arrival is a flex, no doubt, but it’s also a gamble. The Bruins now have to rebuild QB depth from scratch while placing full faith in a player whose last snap came in orange, not blue and gold.

And then there were fewer. UCLA QB Nick Billoups has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3. He became the third Bruins QB to dip out in recent weeks. The Bruins’ quarterback room is starting to look more like a revolving door than a depth chart right now. With the high-profile additions of brothers Nico and Madden Iamaleava incoming, it’s not entirely surprising.

Billoups originally came to UCLA after a previous stop at BYU, but his time in Westwood has now come to a close. The transfer buzz has only gotten louder ever since reports started swirling about the Iamaleava brothers leaning toward joining the Bruins. And now, UCLA’s QB dynamics are shifting fast. Elder one is already here.

Before the Aguilar-Iamaleava swap happened. Foster was positive about Joey Aguilar. “We talked to Joey, you know, just like every other quarterback that’s in that room,” Foster said. “So I like where Joey’s at right now, and hopefully he can keep progressing as spring goes. … Each day he’s getting better, you know, inserting his leadership on the team.” But unfortunately, he had to make space for the Vols star. Looks like they cleared out a lot of space.