Nico Iamaleava staying with UCLA, new coach Bob Chesney

Niko Imaliaeva will stay together UCLA In 2026, He announced on MondayThe school also announced that the quarterback is “forgoing the 2026 NFL Draft.”

The redshirt sophomore transferred from Tennessee to UCLA ahead of the 2025 season, during which the Bruins finished 3-9, and coach DeShawn Foster was fired after an 0-3 start.

UCLA has since hired James Madison coach Bob Chesney, who guided the Dukes to the College Football Playoff, where they lost 51-34 at Oregon on Saturday.

Iamaleva passed for 1,928 yards with 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions this season.

He is not ranked in the draft by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. Top 10 Draft-Eligible Quarterbacks Two more years of eligibility remain.