Photo by: Jesus Ramirez
Nico Iamaleava Selected to Maxwell Award Watch List
July 28, 2025 | Football
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava on the UCLA football team was named to the 89th Maxwell Award Watch List, it was announced by The Maxwell Football Club Monday morning. The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the most outstanding player in the sport.
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This marks UCLA football's first recognition on the Watch List since 2022 when quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and running back Zach Charbonnet were both included. Gary Beban is the only Bruin to win the Maxwell Award (1967).
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Iamaleava, a native of Long Beach, Calif., returns home after spending two seasons at Tennessee where he led the Volunteers to a 11-3 record as the starting quarterback and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024. Iamaleava finished last season completing 213-of-334 passes (63.8%) for 2,616 yards (201.2 yards per game) and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. He totaled 299-plus yards of total offense in three contests against UT-Chattanooga (320), Kentucky (306) and Vanderbilt (299). A master of the deep ball, Iamaleava ranked second in the Southeastern Conference with six 50-plus-yard completions last season.ย
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In 2023, Iamaleava played in five games and served as Tennessee's backup quarterback as a true freshman. Iamaleava shined in his first career start versus Iowa in the 2024 Citrus Bowl, accounting for 178 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to earn MVP honors.
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UCLA opens the 2025 season at home in 33ย days at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California versus Utah on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. (PT).
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The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout at the Swarthmore College and a renowned sports writer and football official.
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Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced in early November, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled later that month. The winner of the 2025 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held in December.
UCLA's Ticket Information
Season ticket packagesย for UCLA's upcoming football season are now available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information. Single-game tickets will be available later this summer.
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This marks UCLA football's first recognition on the Watch List since 2022 when quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson and running back Zach Charbonnet were both included. Gary Beban is the only Bruin to win the Maxwell Award (1967).
ย
Iamaleava, a native of Long Beach, Calif., returns home after spending two seasons at Tennessee where he led the Volunteers to a 11-3 record as the starting quarterback and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2024. Iamaleava finished last season completing 213-of-334 passes (63.8%) for 2,616 yards (201.2 yards per game) and nine touchdowns with five interceptions. He totaled 299-plus yards of total offense in three contests against UT-Chattanooga (320), Kentucky (306) and Vanderbilt (299). A master of the deep ball, Iamaleava ranked second in the Southeastern Conference with six 50-plus-yard completions last season.ย
ย
In 2023, Iamaleava played in five games and served as Tennessee's backup quarterback as a true freshman. Iamaleava shined in his first career start versus Iowa in the 2024 Citrus Bowl, accounting for 178 yards of total offense and four touchdowns to earn MVP honors.
ย
UCLA opens the 2025 season at home in 33ย days at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California versus Utah on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. (PT).
ย
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout at the Swarthmore College and a renowned sports writer and football official.
ย
Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced in early November, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled later that month. The winner of the 2025 Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held in December.
UCLA's Ticket Information
Season ticket packagesย for UCLA's upcoming football season are now available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information. Single-game tickets will be available later this summer.
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