Los Angeles Times says Nico Iamaleava has Heisman Trophy material

Why start doubting Bob Chesney now? Since arriving for the lowly UCLA Bruins football program, Chesney has directed an 180 turnaround in vibes and positive energy. Chesney has already overturned the roster, with over three dozen transfers and currently owning a top-five 2027 recruiting class.

If Chesney can do all of that, then why can’t he turn Nico Iamaleava into a Heisman Trophy-level quarterback? Mirjam Swanson made that case for the Los Angeles Times on Friday.

There were some games last season where Iamaleava looked like a star. It was just tough to spot it due to UCLA’s struggles nearly everywhere else. After losing to UNLV and New Mexico in the first three games of the season, there was no way to salvage a disaster of a season, but still Iamaleava battled, and even rattled off a quick three-game winning streak during conference play.

Iamaleava was a mega recruit for Tennessee and his first year with Tennessee as a starter was solid, but his departure that followed soured a lot of people on the 6’6” quarterback. The exit from the Volunteers made it easier for folks to pile on Iamaleava for UCLA’s struggles. This year, with a new, successful head coach, could Iamaleava prove to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country?

“Consider the unprecedented heights to which Chesney took tiny James Madison, and think of the places he can go with a junior QB whose trajectory had him headed toward Heisman Trophy hopefuldom before turbulence hit,” Swanson wrote. “UCLA - 3-9 last season and with only two bowl appearances in eight years - isn’t anyone’s idea of a shortcut back to glory. But there is this: The seem really have Ted Lasso’d a certain energy these days. A can-do frequency. Joy and positivity are in.”