The UCLA Bruins began the Nico Iamaleava era with an ugly 43-10 home loss against the Utah Utes. Iamaleava, the Tennessee transfer, threw for just 136 yards with one touchdown and an interception in a discouraging Bruins debut at the Rose Bowl.
In Week 2, UCLA takes on UNLV, but Rebels defensive back Aamaris brown had quite the take on Iamaleava.
“Honestly, nothing really sticks out to me about him [on tape],” Brown said on Monday, via On3’s Steve Samra. “You know, in the past, there’s been talk about ‘five-star this, five-star that.’ I have been around plenty of five-star and four-star [players], it don’t scare me. I have played competition higher than them, including Alabama and all that. … Going against a guy like Nico, there’s no surprise, no excitement or nothing like that.”
After those comments made waves, UCLA coach DeShaun Foster had a response, via Benjamin Royer of The Orange County Register.
“That’s how their program operates. That’s not how we operate. We’re going to get out there and play ball, go from there,” Foster said on Wednesday.
Brown played three years at South Florida before coming to UNLV this offseason, but he is wasting no time getting involved in the media.
UNLV is led by Dan Mullen, the former ESPN analyst who was also head coach at Florida, Mississippi State and more before coming to Las Vegas prior to this season.
To make things worse, UNLV is winless in two games all-time against UCLA, according to Winsipedia.
More College Football: Tom Brady Shares Clear Message on Arch Manning Despite Week 1 Loss
In 2024, Iamaleava was the starting QB for No. 9 seed Tennessee, which made the College Football Playoff before losing to No. 8 Ohio State in the first round, 42-17.
UNLV is 2-0 this year with wins against Idaho State and Sam Houston State, although the Week 0 win was by just one touchdown against an inferior opponent.
Nonetheless, the drama between these two teams is picking up steam with kickoff set for Saturday night in Las Vegas.
For more on college football, head to Newsweek Sports.
Read the full article here
