UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster has compared his new quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, to Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Julius Peppers, emphasizing the leadership qualities he sees in Iamaleava that remind him of his former Carolina Panthers teammate.
Foster, who played with Peppers from 2003 to 2007, made the comparison during a discussion about UCLA’s recent practice sessions. After observing Iamaleava on the field, Foster spoke about the quarterback’s presence and natural ability to lead.
“He’s just a leader, you know? I’ve been around Julius Peppers, and he’s not somebody that he’s 6’7″, but you can tell he might not want to be that size, but he just has a personality, and people just gravitate to him, and he goes the same way (… ) He just gets his team ready to go, gets to offense. You can see he’s inserting his leadership each day (… ) It’s coming, and now that last practice, he was chirping at the defense a little bit, like it was fun just to see his personality come out. But he’s a competitor, and I just can’t wait to see him in live action,” Foster said.
During their shared time with the Panthers—including a trip to Super Bowl XXXVIII—Foster saw firsthand what effective leadership looks like in the NFL. He now identifies similar traits in Iamaleava as UCLA prepares for its upcoming season.
Iamaleava transferred from Tennessee after posting solid numbers in 2024: 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions. At six-foot-six inches tall, Iamaleava is seen as someone who leads through performance and steady confidence rather than volume.
UCLA is seeking improvement after finishing with a losing record last season under Foster’s first year as head coach. The Bruins’ offense struggled significantly and ranked near the bottom among college teams nationwide. The addition of Iamaleava is expected by Foster to bring needed stability and leadership on the field.
