UCLA Makes Surprising Quarterback Move on Wednesday
The UCLA Bruins struggled in their first year in the Big Ten, going just 5-7, marking their first losing season since 2020 and 3-6 in conference matchups.
However, they've had a very busy offseason, led by head coach DeShaun Foster, where they have brought in a total of 20 players from the transfer portal, for a class that ranks No. 11 in the nation, per On3.
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Of course, the biggest of that group is quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who spent last season with the Tennessee Volunteers and was ranked as the second-best player to hit the portal this cycle.
However, they made another interesting move on Wednesday, flipping Ole Miss transfer quarterback Pierce Clarkson, who has been with the Louisville Cardinals the past two seasons.
Coming out of high school in the class of 2023, On3 Industry Rankings placed Clarkson as a four-star recruit, the No. 26 quarterback and the No. 395 player in the nation.
However, his time with the Cardinals has been extremely lackluster, appearing in three games and completing 4-of-6 passes for 18 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
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Clarkson is also the third quarterback UCLA has added through the portal that will be with the team next season, which of course includes Nico, and his younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, who will be a true freshman.
Louisville Cardinals quarterback Pierce Clarkson (10).Jordan Prather-Imagn Images
With Nico undoubtedly getting ready to be the starter in 2025, it's hard to imagine that Clarkson transferred in with the idea that he would see much time on the field, so he will have to wait at least a year on the bench.
That means that he's not only banking on Nico entering next year's NFL draft but also on his ability to beat Madden in a positional battle for the starting role in 2026.
Related: Alabama Receives Unfortunate Recruiting Update on Five-Star WR
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