UCLA football is ready to promote Nico Iamaleava as the face of its program.
The Bruins announced on Monday that Iamaleava will be one of three player-attendees headed to Big Ten Media Days this summer.
Iamaleava is a former Tennessee football quarterback who entered the transfer portal amid controversy in the spring window. He ultimately found his way back out to California after reports surfaced that he was engaging in NIL negotiations and eventually missing team practices ahead of the spring game.
The conference’s media days are scheduled for July 22-24. Iamaleava and UCLA will take the podium on the final day, July 24, along with five other programs. Joining Iamaleava to represent the Bruins will be head coach DeShaun Foster, offensive lineman Garrett DiGiorgio and linebacker JonJon Vaughns.
In two years with the Vols, Iamaleava was never a participant at SEC Media Days. As a true freshman, starting quarterback Joe Milton III made the trip to Nashville. In Iamaleava’s first year as a starter, Josh Heupel and Tennessee opted to send center Cooper Mays, linebacker Keenan Pili and defensive tackle Omari Thomas, instead.
This year, UT will speak on July 15 in Atlanta. The players alongside Heupel to represent the team are yet to be announced.
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With the Vols in line to have a quarterback battle in fall camp, it is unlikely a signal caller will make the trip south. Instead, it would be a safer bet to pencil in tight end Miles Kitselman and linebacker Arion Carter as two of the participants. Both players did not compete in the annual Orange & White Spring Game, but were trusted to address the media afterward in the wake of Iamaleava’s transfer saga.
Other teams to speak during Tennessee’s day are Auburn, Georgia and Texas. The Vols will face the Bulldogs at home this year, but do not have Auburn or Texas on the regular season schedule.
Tennessee will begin the 2025 regular season on August 30, back in Atlanta, against Syracuse. Kick-off is scheduled for noon ET with the game airing on ABC.
The home opener will be the following Saturday on September 6 when UT plays host to ETSU. That will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET on SECN+/ESPN+. The first SEC game of the year will be against Georgia at home on September 13 at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
