Redshirt sophomore Nico Iamaleava of the UCLA football team has been named to the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, according to an announcement from the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation. The award is given each year to the top senior or upperclassman quarterback who is set to graduate with their class.
The selection process for the award involves a committee made up of college football journalists, commentators, announcers, and former players. The winner will be honored at a ceremony in December at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.
Cade McNown remains the only UCLA player to have won this award, receiving it in 1998.
Iamaleava’s inclusion on this watch list marks his fifth preseason watch list selection for 2025. He was previously named to lists for the Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, and Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.
Iamaleava recently transferred from Tennessee, where he led the Volunteers as starting quarterback to an 11-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024. Last season, he completed 213-of-334 passes for 2,616 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. He recorded over 299 yards of total offense in three games and ranked second in the Southeastern Conference for completions of more than 50 yards.
In his freshman year in 2023, Iamaleava played five games as Tennessee’s backup quarterback. In his first career start during the 2024 Citrus Bowl against Iowa, he accounted for four touchdowns and earned MVP honors.
UCLA will begin its 2025 season at home against Utah at The Rose Bowl on August 30 at 8 p.m. Pacific Time. Single-game and season tickets are available by phone or email through UCLA Athletics.
