The Bruins' star quarterback thought he knew everything there was to know about the sport before getting to Westwood.

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava said Thursday that his main motivation for transferring this spring was proximity to family, not the money in his NIL deal.

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava says "false reports" mischaracterized his motivations for leaving Tennessee, adding that he chose UCLA to play closer to home.

This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/ucla as Iamaleava Laying Foundation for UCLA's Future . As the college football season approaches, the buzz around UCLA and star quarterback Nico Iamaleava is growing louder. But Iamaleava's impact won't last just one season; he's laying the foundation for plenty of elite recruits to come.

On Thursday, Kwazi Gilmer continued to showcase a budding connection with Iamaleava on the field.

UCLA coach DeShaun Foster says he likes what he has seen so far from quarterback Nico Iamaleava, including his determination to succeed.

A quarterback is expected to command every room he walks into, and Iamaleava's competitive drive seems to be an infectious trait on the field and in the Bruins' locker room. Much of this intangible skill is what helped the transfer signal-caller lead Tennessee to a 10-3 record and their first ever College Football Playoff appearance last season.

UCLA Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster has only had Nico Iamaleava on his roster for a few months, but he's already seen enough from the former Tennessee Vols quarterback to compare him to a Pro Football Hall of Famer.