Rece Davis: Nico Iamaleava transfer being a scheme fit is ‘hot garbage’

Nico Iamaleava is set to join the UCLA roster this offseason after a dramatic departure from Tennessee ahead of its annual spring game. Reports detailing disputes over contract figures and NIL earnings allegedly led to the divorce following a successful 2024 campaign.

During the College GameDay podcast, ESPN’s Pete Thamel said that there has been some notion that Iamaleava’s decision to transfer may have been based on scheme fit, or even NFL preparedness. Co-host Rece Davis called the notion of this ‘hot garbage.’ Thamel said Davis said a right to be sketpical.

“The one thing that they have said is that, well, the pieces around him weren’t sufficient — weren’t what he needed,” Davis told Thamel. “And UCLA is, look, I’m really bullish on Deshaun Foster. I like him very much. You know, my friendship with and belief in, as a rising star in the coaching industry, their new offensive coordinator, Tino Sunseri, and whether I’m right about that will be, we’ll find out. I believe in Tino. I believe in Deshaun.

“I think he’s a good coach and and a good fit there, but you can’t go in and start saying that Tennessee is not as prepared as UCLA in terms of pieces around him. That’s preposterous on its face.”

To Davis’ point, Iamaleava led the Volunteers to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance this past season. At the same time, the Bruins did not qualify for a bowl game and finished with a 5-7 record.

2024 was the first season Foster was leading the program, but there is a clear upside to the program he’s building. He’s bringing in a top 50 recruiting class, and a top 25 transfer portal class, including Iamaleava and his younger brother, Madden at the quarterback position.

In the end, Davis was supportive of Iamaleava’s decision based on a few reasons. However, he left the quarterback’s camp with a piece of advice about the situation.

“And the other thing I would say about Nico and not having a say in this, is that I do have some sympathy for him there, and I also have some respect for his respect for his elders and his family,” Davis continued. “But there comes a time when a father has to let his son be in the driver’s seat and make the decisions good or bad.”

What’s done is done, though. And UCLA and Iamaleava will begin their regular season against Utah on Aug. 30.

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