UNLV defensive back Aamaris Brown isnt blown away by UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
The Rebels host the Bruins in Week 2 as UCLA enters following a season-opening loss to Utah. UNLV is 2-0 after wins over Idaho State and Sam Houston to start the season. When asked what impressed him about Iamaleava during a news conference on Monday, Brown didnt have anything to point to.
Honestly, nothing really sticks out about him to me honestly, Brown said. You know, in the past theres been talk about five-star this, five-star that and Ive been around plenty of five-star, four-stars it dont scare me, you know what Im saying? And I had to play competition technically higher than them, if you want to include Alabama and all that I had to play up to their competition so going against a guy like Nico its no surprise, no excitement, nothing like that.
Brown transferred to UNLV in the offseason for his final season of eligibility after spending three seasons at South Florida. The Tampa native initially signed with Kansas State out of high school and played with the Wildcats for two seasons to start his college career.
Iamaleava played his first game with UCLA against the Utes after his high-profile transfer from Tennessee during spring practices. That game did not go very well. Iamaleava was 11-of-22 passing for 136 yards with a TD and an interception as UCLA lost 43-10. He was also sacked four times.
After the game, Iamaleava said that UCLA got punched in the mouth by the Utes and Bruins coach Deshaun Foster said the team needed to do a better job of protecting Iamaleava.
The California native transferred to UCLA after helping lead the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff at the end of the 2024 season. But as spring practices began, the relationship between Iamaleava and Tennessee dissolved and he transferred back closer to home.
The Bruins enter Saturday nights game as 2.5-point favorites over last seasons Mountain West runner-up. UNLV has a remade roster after former Florida coach Dan Mullen was hired and brought in scores of transfers like Brown and others.