Redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been named to the 89th Maxwell Award Watch List, according to an announcement from The Maxwell Football Club. The Maxwell Award is given each year to the most outstanding player in college football.
Iamaleava’s selection marks UCLA football’s first appearance on the Watch List since 2022, when both Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Zach Charbonnet were included. Gary Beban remains the only UCLA player to have won the award, earning it in 1967.
Iamaleava, originally from Long Beach, California, transferred to UCLA after two seasons at Tennessee. Last season, he led Tennessee to an 11-3 record as starting quarterback and helped secure a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024. He completed 213 of 334 passes for a completion rate of 63.8 percent, totaling 2,616 yards and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. He recorded over 299 yards of total offense in three games against UT-Chattanooga (320), Kentucky (306), and Vanderbilt (299). Iamaleava ranked second in the Southeastern Conference last season with six 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 with a total of 178 yards.
UCLA will begin its season at home at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena on August 30 against Utah.
The Maxwell Award has recognized college football’s top player since its inception in 1937 and is named after Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, who was known as both a standout athlete at Swarthmore College and later as a sports writer and official.
According to the announcement schedule from The Maxwell Football Club, semifinalists for this year’s award will be revealed in early November. Three finalists will be announced later that month. The winner will be named during ESPN’s Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.
Fans interested in attending UCLA football games can purchase season ticket packages now by calling (310) 206-5991 or emailing tickets@athletics.ucla.edu; single-game tickets are expected to go on sale later this summer.
