Nico Iamaleava was perhaps the biggest name in the transfer portal last offseason, and the UCLA Bruins won the bidding war for his services. He decided to exit Tennessee, a decision that shocked the football world and has totally changed his situation. Is that for the better?
Colin Cowherd isn't so sure. He went on the Joel Klatt Show and expressed some trepidation about Iamaleava's westward move. While the QB may have an NFL future, UCLA might not be the best place to get to said future.
Cowherd said, "Fascinating, okay? Pageant mom has become quarterback dad... You're squeezing so hard, you're hurting your kid... He shouldn't have left Tennessee. They have better players. You're going to face more NFL bodies maybe in that schedule compared to UCLA's this year."
The move to UCLA might end up being better right now, but it may have negative impact on his NFL future. "But he is good," Cowherd clarified. "And he is kind of what the NFL is looking for. And he moves really, really, really well." The FOX analyst also noted that watching Iamaleava last year showed a player who wasn't there yet but would be someday.
And if Iamaleava is somehow able to reach that level with UCLA, it throws the NFL draft into some chaos with the UCLA star, Arch Manning, Cade Klubnik, Garrett Nussmeier, Drew Allar, and maybe some others all going at the top of the next draft class.