Foster Pleased With Showcase
This spring, most of the talk was about former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. He recently signed with UCLA and made his first public appearance with the program, watching from the sideline along with his younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, who is also expected to transfer to Westwood.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The Spring Showcase was a solid way to lean into the 2025 UCLA football season. There was plenty of anticipation after the way the Bruins finished last year.
Coach DeShaun Foster liked what he saw during the few hours his players took the field in front of around 4,000 fans at the Rose Bowl.
This spring, most of the talk was about former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. He recently signed with UCLA and made his first public appearance with the program, watching from the sideline along with his younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, who is also expected to transfer to Westwood.
With the Iamaleavas looking on, redshirt freshman quarterback Luke Duncan took snaps with both the first and second teams. He’s emerged as the top option among the Bruins’ remaining quarterbacks.
“Luke had a really good practice today,” said Foster. “Each day, you could tell he was getting better, getting more comfortable. There was a lot of outside noise, and he was still finding ways to focus on exactly what he needed to focus on, which was improving his play.”
Redshirt senior quarterback Nick Billoups and redshirt junior defensive lineman Jacob Busic were also on the field. Both had entered the transfer portal just days earlier.
The spring transfer window has made that more common. Roster changes can happen in the middle of practices, shifting roles and leading players to seek new opportunities.
“It’s where college football is at,” said redshirt freshman linebacker Isaiah Chisom. “Everybody has to do what’s best for them, whatever that looks like. We don’t know the real stories behind what’s making people make these types of decisions.”
The Bruins had several young players and transfers put on the blue and gold at the Rose Bowl for the first time.
Wide receiver Mikey Matthews, a sophomore transfer from Cal, and freshman running back Karson Cox each scored multiple touchdowns. Down the road, both will have to earn their minutes in two crowded position groups.
The wide receiver room includes freshman Kwazi Gilmer, redshirt junior Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, and sophomore Rico Flores Jr., all of whom started at least four games last season and averaged over 28 yards per game.
Matthews flashed some elusive speed.
In the backfield, sophomore Jaivian Thomas (another Cal transfer) and junior Anthony Woods (from Idaho) brought new competition. Thomas led Cal with 626 rushing yards last season. Woods rushed for 1,131 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023.
“In any system, the offense at the beginning of the spring is going to be slower than the defense,” added Chisom. “Offenses are a little more technical and a little harder to get used to. But I mean, they’re the best we’ve seen. I think today they had a really good practice.”
Despite movement through the portal, the offense has kept building. Since the window opened on April 16, two quarterbacks, a running back, and a tight end have joined the Bruins. Meanwhile, four quarterbacks have left or are in the process of leaving.
“Regardless of him (Nico Iamaleava) coming or Joey (former quarterback Joey Aguilar) leaving, as a team, we have done a really good job of honing in this spring and coming together as a team and working,” said redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Julian Armella.
The Spring Showcase marked the Bruins’ final practice of the spring. Fall camp kicks off this summer.
“They approached spring the right way,” said Foster. “Coming after the type of season that we had, these guys were eager to get out here and really try to find ways to better themselves as a team. I love the competition and how they competed, day in and day out.”
