LOS ANGELES — Piecing together practices and absorbing information have turned months into weeks, all boiling down to the final four days before UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava gets to prove what he’s learned since his last football game 276 days ago.
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Iamaleava’s last opponent was USC, against which he completed 27 of 38 passes for 200 yards and one touchdown in a 29-10 loss to the crosstown rival.
Losing to USC, however, seems like a distant memory for Iamaleava, who displayed fluidity and confidence in his arm during the live period Tuesday at Wasserman Football Center before UCLA is set to face Cal on Saturday night in Berkeley.
Iamaleava connected on consecutive passes and displayed command of his new offense run by head coach Bob Chesney and offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy.
“Today was probably one of his better days, if not one of his best days since he’s been out here,” Chesney said after Tuesday’s practice. “I think he’s seeing it clearly. It gets a little bit easier when you start to figure out and understand the defense you’re playing against and certain things that you’re looking for. It’s not everything being thrown at you every single day.”
Chesney noted Iamaleava’s slow build and the sharpness to the quick reads he’s made to find short-yardage slant routes or the screen pass.
“The thing about camp is that it’s a bunch of installs,” Chesney said. “You’re running everything. Right now we are getting our game plan to execute the game plan we plan to execute on Saturday. It simplifies things and lets him move a little quicker.”
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While the Bruins’ No. 9 was moving the offense, another No. 9 on defense was delivering tackles. Fifth-year senior linebacker Jalen Woods, a former St. John Bosco High standout, was cutting off angles and finishing plays during the live period.
Woods is looking to have a breakout 2026 after he made 47 tackles and tied the team high with 1½ sacks despite making just three starts but appearing in all 12 games last season.
“He’s physical, and he’s as athletic as can be, but he’s also smart,” Chesney said. “He knows everything that’s happening out here, and he’s a communicator. He executes under pressure.”
As for Chesney, he’s done plenty of adapting at UCLA as well. Athletic Director Martin Jarmond was fired Monday and replaced by Tim Harris, the former president of business operations for the Lakers.
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Chesney reflected on the former coaches he’s bonded with since coming to Westwood. A phone call with Dick Vermeil, spending time with the grandchildren and daughters of Terry Donahue, and conversations with UCLA donor Angelo Mazzone, whom Chesney described as a “godfather of the football program,” have been part of the experiences he’s shared since arriving from James Madison.
“I think (Vermeil, Donahue) were demanding and they loved this place, loved their players and didn’t fall short,” Chesney said. “At the same time, they kept it personal with them, made sure they had a relationship with those guys and knew they cared a lot about them.”
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