UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster knows great leadership when he sees it. The former NFL running back recently compared his new quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, to one of the most respected defensive players in league history.
Foster played alongside Hall of Fame pass rusher Julius Peppers during their time with the Carolina Panthers. Now he sees similar qualities emerging in his transfer quarterback from Tennessee.
Foster Sees Peppers’ Traits in Iamaleava
After spending years playing alongside top NFL talent, Foster knows what real leadership looks like. In a Big Ten Football social media post, he discussed his thoughts about Iamaleava after watching him during UCLA’s recent practice sessions.
“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,” Foster said about how Iamaleava leads naturally.
He pointed out how the quarterback makes his teammates better just by being there.
“He just gets his team ready to go, gets to offense. You can see he’s inserting his leadership each day,” Foster said.
DeShaun Foster spent several years around Julius Peppers.
The @UCLAFootball coach sees some similar personality traits between Nico Iamaleava and the @NFL HOFer. pic.twitter.com/LAaoI2DMpQ
— Big Ten Football (@B1Gfootball) August 19, 2025
Foster saw Iamaleava’s competitive side come out during recent practices.
“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.”
The Julius Peppers Connection Runs Deep
Foster’s comparison is special given his history with Peppers during their Panthers years from 2003 to 2007. The two were teammates when Carolina reached Super Bowl XXXVIII following the 2003 season, giving Foster a close look at what great leadership looks like.
Now, Foster sees those same leadership qualities emerging in his new quarterback.
Iamaleava put up solid stats during his 2024 Tennessee season with 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Like Peppers, the 6’6″ quarterback doesn’t need to be the loudest player to command respect, leading through his play and quiet confidence.
UCLA had a tough 2024 season, finishing with a losing 5-7 record in Foster’s first year as head coach. The Bruins’ offense was one of the worst in college football, scoring just 18.4 points per game and ranking 126th out of 134 teams.
The team clearly needed a quarterback who could provide steady leadership and improve their scoring, which is exactly what Iamaleava brings.
