Nico Iamaleava’s high-profile exit from Tennessee, opting for the UCLA Bruins, has become one of the most polarizing storylines of the college football offseason — and former Ohio State coach-turned-analyst Urban Meyer isn’t mincing words about how he thinks it will end.
Nico Iamaleava’s Controversial UCLA Bruins Transfer Draws Harsh Criticism From Urban Meyer
“I see Nico’s the most famous story out there,” Meyer said on The Triple Option podcast. “This is going to be one of those deals a couple of years from now where they say — whether it be father, third uncle or an agent — ‘Tell me again why I did that?’”
Meyer questioned whether Iamaleava, still just 19 years old, truly grasped the magnitude of the financial and career risk he’s taking by transferring, reportedly for NIL reasons. “That’s why they call parents ‘parents.’ That’s why they call coaches ‘coaches,’” Meyer added. “Someone’s got to advise and help them, someone that’s been through the ringer a little bit.”
The former five-star recruit threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions last year, completing 63.8% of his passes and leading Tennessee to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance. While his season included a dominant debut — 314 yards and three touchdowns on 78.6% passing — he also had eight games under 200 yards and struggled in the playoff loss to Ohio State, throwing for just 104 yards on 45.2% passing.
Despite a gracious exit from Tennessee, Meyer’s message is clear: Iamaleava is making a move he may soon regret. Leaving Josh Heupel’s high-powered offense for what Meyer called “one of the worst offenses in the Big Ten” at UCLA could prove costly.
“I don’t think he understands what he’s giving up,” Meyer said. “All of a sudden, you wake up one day and ask, ‘What in the [expletive] did I do that for?’”
Whether Iamaleava finalizes his deal with UCLA or ends up elsewhere, the college football world will be watching — and judging.