Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was an integral part to the Volunteers’ run to the College Football Playoff last season, as he passed for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. He however shocked the college football world this offseason when he announced his departure and subsequent move to UCLA to play for head coach DeShaun Foster and the Bruins.

Iamaleava became known for his No. 8 jersey in Knoxville, but he has changed things up following his move to Los Angeles and will wear No. 9 this season. He explained the decision to bump his number up from No. 8 to No. 9 during a media opportunity on Wednesday.

“Yes I had to switch it up,” Iamaleava said. “I have seven siblings and my two parents (totaling the number nine) so yeah. They’ll all be (at the season opener) so it’ll be fun.”

Iamaleava was the No. 6-ranked player in the Class of 2023 coming out of Warren (Long Beach, CA), three spots behind fellow quarterback Dante Moore. Moore actually committed to UCLA out of high school, spending his freshman season there. He, however, transferred to Oregon for the 2024 season, leaving a hole at the quarterback position at UCLA.

Iamaleava now gets to head home to Los Angeles for a Bruins program still looking to find its identity. He, along with Foster and the entire team, looks to take the next step in a crowded Big Ten this season.

“We’re just excited to have a playoff quarterback,” Foster said at Big Ten Media Day. “Somebody that was able to lead his team to the playoffs. They might not have got the outcome that they wanted, but he still was able to play and he showed how tough he was in that game. Just being able to come back home and be in a familiar environment, I think sky is the limit. So we’re excited about this.”

Foster’s first season at his alma mater didn’t go great, as the Bruins finished with a 5-7 record. This marked UCLA’s first sub-eight-win season since 2020. The addition of Iamaleava however has Foster fired up heading into his second season as the head man in Los Angeles.

“Just the arm strength is just something that you see off, just from watching him play at all,” Foster continued. “But he’s just a talent. It’s not anything that I saw him do last season. It’s more of what I’d seen him do all the way up.”

UCLA opens its 2025 campaign on the road Saturday, Aug. 30 at Utah. Kick-off is scheduled for 11:00 PM on FOX, bringing back memories of ‘PAC-12 After Dark’ in what is now a clash between Big Ten/Big 12 foes.