Nico Iamaleava expressed both anguish and resolve Thursday in his first public comments since he suffered a devastating knee injury.
In an Instagram post, the UCLA quarterback acknowledged that he would be unable to return this season after getting crunched by two defenders earlier this month against Oregon.
“Well, I’m heartbroken the way my season ended,” Iamaleava wrote in the post, which included a picture of himself at the Rose Bowl. “I’ve finally accepted that this year is really over for me. This wasn’t a part of the plan, but I believe everything happens for a reason.
“I gave this game and my brothers everything I had and I’ll continue to lean on God and trust His plan. I’ll be back.”
Iamaleava ended the post with an emoji showing hands clasped together, signaling his thanks.
With another season of eligibility remaining, Iamaleava could return to college in 2027 after a shaky start to this season with the Bruins. In parts of five games, Iamaleava completed 62.1% of his passes for 982 yards with 4 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
UCLA coach Bob Chesney said this week that Iamaleava was still preparing for surgery, with a timetable for recovery depending upon the procedure and how Iamaleava’s body responds.
Ty Dieffenbach has stepped up in Iamaleava’s absence, helping the Bruins hold off Oregon before guiding them to victories over Wisconsin and Michigan State.
No. 7 UCLA (7-0) faces Nevada (3-4) on Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl in a rare midseason nonconference game, bidding for its first 8-0 start since 2005.
With Dieffenbach possessing at least one more season of eligibility and the uncertainty surrounding Iamaleava’s recovery, there’s plenty of decisions to be made when it comes to who will be the Bruins’ starting quarterback next season.
