Iamaleava Tabbed to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List
August 19, 2025 | Football
BALTIMORE, Md. โ Redshirt sophomore Nico Iamaleava on the UCLA football team was one of 58 quarterbacks named to the 2025 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Educational Foundation announced Tuesday.
ย
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class. The preseason Watch List, semifinalists, finalists and award recipients are selected by the distinguished Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers and former players. This year's award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy at the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Md., in December.
ย
Cade McNown, who earned the honor in 1998, is the only Bruin to take home the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in its 38-year history.
ย
This is the fifth preseason watch list that Iamaleava has been selected to in the leadup to the 2025 campaign, as he was earlier tabbed to the watch lists for the Maxwell Award (most outstanding college football player), Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award and Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.
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
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's Ticket Information
UCLA opens the 2025 season at home at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California versus Utah on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. (PT).ย Single-gameย andย season ticketsย for UCLA's upcoming football season are now available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information.
ย
ย
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award annually recognizes the top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class. The preseason Watch List, semifinalists, finalists and award recipients are selected by the distinguished Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee, a group of prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers and former players. This year's award winner will be presented the Golden Arm Award trophy at the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award celebration at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Md., in December.
ย
Cade McNown, who earned the honor in 1998, is the only Bruin to take home the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award in its 38-year history.
ย
This is the fifth preseason watch list that Iamaleava has been selected to in the leadup to the 2025 campaign, as he was earlier tabbed to the watch lists for the Maxwell Award (most outstanding college football player), Walter Camp Player of the Year, Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award and Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.
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
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's Ticket Information
UCLA opens the 2025 season at home at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California versus Utah on Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. (PT).ย Single-gameย andย season ticketsย for UCLA's upcoming football season are now available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information.
ย
Players Mentioned
QB
/ FootballBruin Insider Show - DeShaun Foster (Sept. 10, 2025)
Wednesday, September 10
UCLA Football Media Availability - Ikaika Malloe (Sept. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, September 09
UCLA Football Media Availability - Anthony Jones (Sept. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, September 09
UCLA Football Media Availability - Anthony Jones (Sept. 9, 2025)
Tuesday, September 09