UCF Not Expected to Pursue QB Nico Iamaleava in Transfer Portal
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava made headlines across college football recently after reports emerged that he was seeking a more lucrative NIL deal, prompting Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel to move on from the former starter. Now in the transfer portal, Iamaleava is evaluating potential landing spots for the upcoming season.
Strong quarterback leadership is essential to any successful college football program, and Iamaleava’s departure has quickly drawn interest from across the country. However, despite initial speculation, UCF is not currently in the mix to land the high-profile transfer.
Head coach Scott Frost, now in his second tenure at UCF after previously winning a national title as a player with Nebraska in 1997, leads a quarterback room that already includes Indiana transfer Tayven Jackson, Cam Fancher from Florida Atlantic, and returner Jacurri Brown, a player Frost recruited while coaching at Nebraska.
An intriguing connection to Iamaleava does exist at UCF through McKenzie Milton, the former star quarterback who now serves as the team’s quarterbacks coach. Milton previously worked with Iamaleava at Tennessee while serving as an offensive analyst and has firsthand knowledge of his capabilities. Despite that relationship, UCF appears content with its current quarterback depth.
According to college football insider Pete Thamel, UCF is not pursuing Iamaleava at this time. While other programs such as Florida State, Miami, and Colorado are rumored to be in the running, UCF is focused on developing its current roster heading into the new season.
