Brent Pry’s firing already took the college football community by storm, and soon after, UCLA took the bold step of parting ways with DeShaun Foster. Even after getting in a dynamic QB like Nico Iamaleava, the team has yet to win a single game in the league. And let’s not forget flying under the radar in the Pac-12 was way easier than it is in the Big Ten, with more media attention and the nation’s top programs. That’s exactly why UCLA took this bold step, and they are already locking names with their 5 veterans.

UCLA needs to address DeShaun Foster’s situation quickly, as they are set to face four ranked teams, which are Penn State, Indiana, Ohio State, and USC, in the coming weeks. And going up against them without an HC will only leave them in big misery. That’s exactly why AD Martin Jarmond is eyeing 5 different veterans who might ease out their pressure. The list holds pretty dynamic names like Casey Wasserman, UCLA ’96, Founder and CEO; Bob Myers, ESPN Basketball Analyst and Advisor, Washington Commanders; Eric Kendricks, UCLA ’14, 10-year NFL Pro; Adam Peters, UCLA ’02, General Manager, Washington Commanders; and Erin Adkins, UCLA Executive Senior Associate AD.

But what makes them a perfect option to find key replacements for DeShaun Foster? It is their familiarity with the program, as all of them are UCLA alumni, and spotting the right guy won’t be an issue for them. And even Jarmond’s pretty sure about his move, as he praises them for stepping up. “I want to thank the members of the search committee who have, out of their love for UCLA, agreed to contribute their time and expertise to this process,” said Jarmond. “We will identify, recruit, and invest in a leader who has the vision, the confidence, the attitude, and the proven ability to return UCLA Football to national prominence.”

Even if the urge sounds promising, it’s not going to be an easy cup of tea for UCLA. As they are nothing but a mess right now, allowing 286 rushing yards against Utah and almost 300 yards to New Mexico. So, it’s pretty clear that the job of rebuilding is going to be tough; even former coaches like Chip Kelly couldn’t do much because of a lack of resources and transfer portal chaos. But who could be a possible replacement?

As per the athletics list, the front-runner is UCLA’s former DC D’Anton Lynn, who’s now at USC. This man made an instant impact on UCLA’s defense back in 2023 and even gave USC a strong backing by allowing just 24 points per game last year and 16.7 points so far in the league. On top of that, his familiarity with the Bruins staff and ability to connect with players make him a perfect option for them. Apart from Lynn, there’s Baylor’s HC Dave Aranda, who not just brings in Big 12 experience but also a dynamic style. Even Kalani Sitake is in the mix with a proven playoff record last season and strong West Coast connections.

Looks like UCLA is moving forward, but Nico Iamaleava is still not ready to.

Nico gets real on DeShaun Foster’s firing

DeShaun Foster’s tenure ended with the Bruins before he could even make an impact. After a 5-7 run last season, this was his chance to turn UCLA’s fate this year, but now he’s just left with a 5-10 record. What’s worse is that at least Virginia Tech gave Brent Pry three years to prove his caliber, even though he finished with 16-24, and Foster didn’t even get a chance to complete this season.

That left a lasting impact on Nico Iamaleava, who made his stance clear on DeShaun Foster’s firing. “Man, I’ve been good, man,” Iamaleava said. “I think Coach (Tim) Skipper coming in and relaying the message to us about what we have to do for Coach Foster has been great. The whole team has really heard the message.” It’s Skipper’s second stint as an interim coach after he did the same for Fresno State last season.

But here’s the deal. Even Iamaleava’s run isn’t that great with the Bruins, as the guy who transferred from Tennessee as a top-rated player in the portal is struggling to find his pace through the first three games. Despite completing 63.9% of his passes for 608 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions, he couldn’t lead his team to a single win. What’s worse is that they have lost by an average of 21.6 points per game and are standing at the bottom of the Big 10. Now, it will be interesting to see how he holds up his game against teams like Ohio State and Penn State, who are leading the charts this season.

With Iamaleava, even Huskers HC Matt Rhule didn’t like the entire firing stunt. “I remember texting him after the game, like, ‘I’m not gonna let it happen again, but I’m proud of you for what you did.’ He got his team ready to play. Just disappointed that he only got a year and three games.” Now, let’s wait and see which one of Jarmond and the committee’s choices finally steps up, and if this firing could make their presence strong in any way.