Polarizing UCLA transfer QB Nico Iamaleava given head-turning post-spring ESPN ranking

Nico Iamaleava was the talk of the majority of the college football offseason for one sole reason: the well-documented way he left Knoxville.

Regardless of one's opinion of Iamaleava's antics, he is still a highly-touted quarterback deserving of such accolades when addressing how the rest of his college career may shake out.

With three years of eligibility remaining, ESPN is already giving Iamaleava his flowers. As the fifth-best player in this year's transfer class, Iamaleava has a chance to prove UCLA right, the media wrong, and that he is, in fact, elite.

"Iamaleava's arrival will cost them App State transfer QB Joey Aguilar, who reentered the portal after going through spring practice with the Bruins and landed at Tennessee," Max Olson wrote. "The challenge going forward for Iamaleava is learning OC Tino Sunseri's system and winning over his new teammates this summer, but he'll certainly be motivated after his split with the Vols."

As for his athletic ability, it isn't a secret. When Iamaleava is red-hot, he is close to unbeatable. Football pundits like Tom Luginbill say eventually he'll be better known as s football star rather than a personality.

"During his one season as a starter, he showed flashes of brilliance but also mediocrity,"  Luginbill said.

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Luginbill was quick to point out the balancing act Iamaleava struggled with as he didn't have many signature moments as the games got bigger.

"He threw 19 touchdowns, but four of the nine touchdowns in SEC play came against Vanderbilt and seven came against Chattanooga and UTEP. Consistency is where he has to improve. He's got the arm strength and overall talent to be a terrific vertical deep ball passer but has been wildly inconsistent in terms of accuracy in that regard. There are still tools here, but he will likely be playing on a team that is less talented than the one he just left. Meaning: He's going to have to be better than he has ever been."

If UCLA can reach a bowl game, they're likely on the right track. If not, it could be a long year in a challenging Big Ten.