Trouble in Paradise: Nico Iamaleava starts 0-3 as UCLA’s QB following loss to New Mexico
By Ethan Stone
Published:
It’s not going to well for Nico Iamaleava out in Los Angeles. Or any other fans of the UCLA Bruins, for that matter.
UCLA is a woeful 0-3 to start the season with losses to Utah, UNLV and now New Mexico. There’s no shame in losing to the Utes, but falling to UNLV and the Lobos are a little less forgivable. Folks, UCLA lost to New Mexico by 4 scores. At home.
Tennessee fans might find this development particularly relevant, especially considering the early success of the Vols’ new QB Joey Aguilar, who was originally slated to start for the Bruins this season until Iamaleava arrived in town. It’s still early and we’ve still yet to see Aguilar against elite competition (that changes today against Georgia), but the Vols appear to have won the offseason ‘trade‘ already.
Iamaleava and the Bruins are not only 0-3, but they have also yet to lead this season.
It’s fun for Vols fans to pile on Iamaleava, but the former 5-star deserves the following context.
The Bruins are absolutely dreadful. Through 3 games the Bruins defense has allowed 36 points per game, by far the worst average in the Big Ten. Iamaleava doesn’t have a particularly strong offensive line, either. Still, in a lot of ways, it’s still the Iamaleava that Vols fans know all too well.
For starters, he’s still struggling to get through his progressions – though his offensive line certainly isn’t helping. Iamaleava has 30 rushing attempts on the season, the most of any rusher on the Bruins squad. If he sees something he doesn’t like, he bails out of the pocket quickly – just like in Knoxville. He’s been average in terms of accuracy – 63.8% – but his average yardage per throw is low at 6.3 yards.
Iamaleava has thrown for 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions (he threw 5 last season on Rocky Top) and has been sacked 6 times through the first 3 weeks of the year.
The Bruins are back in action in 2 weeks when they travel to Evanston to face Northwestern.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
