Photo by: Isabella Serafini
Maxwell, O’Brien and Walter Camp Awards Honor Nico Iamaleava
October 07, 2025 | Football
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava on the UCLA football team earned numerous awards for his career performance in the Bruins' 42-37 upset victory over No. 7 Penn State. On Tuesday, it was announced that Iamaleava was chosen for the Maxwell Award Player of the Week, Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week and Walter Camp National FBS Offensive Player of the Week.
Iamaleava was also named the AP National Player of the Week, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and tabbed to the Manning Award "Stars of the Week" list for Week 6 on Monday. Iamaleava was selected for the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week from the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 list, which was announced yesterday.
Iamaleava accounted for a career-high five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing) and 294 yards of total offense to help lead UCLA to its first top-10 victory since 2010. The Long Beach, Calif. native finished with career highs in rushing yards (128) and rushing touchdowns (3) in addition to a career-long 52-yard rush, which was UCLA's longest of the season. It marked the fourth time this season that Iamaleava was the Bruins' leading rusher. Iamaleava's 128 rushing yards are the most by a UCLA QB since Brett Hundley rushed for 131 yards versus Arizona in a 17-7 win on Nov. 1, 2014. He is the first UCLA QB to finish with 100-plus rushing yards in a game since Collin Schlee, who had 127 against Boise State in the 2023 LA Bowl.
Iamaleava's three rushing touchdowns tied a single-game record for a UCLA quarterback, marking just the fifth time in program history a Bruins QB accomplished that feat and first time since 1978 (Rick Bashore vs. Washington State). Former all-American QBs Gary Beban and John Sciarra (twice) also rushed for three TDs in a single game.
Through the air, Iamaleava completed 17 of 24 passes for 166 yards yards and two touchdowns. He had touchdown throws to wide receivers Kwazi Gilmer and Titus Mokiao-Atimalala in the first half, helping the Bruins to a 27-7 lead at the break. Iamaleava connected with Gilmer for a season-long 43-yard completion in the second quarter, which set up an Iamaleava scoring run.
Iamaleava was responsible for all six of UCLA's 20-plus-yard plays on Saturday (four rushes, two passes).
Iamaleava has averaged 190.8 passing yards per game on 98-of-148 passing (66.2%), including six touchdowns, over the first five starts of his UCLA career. He owns all of the Bruins' four rushing touchdowns this season and has led the team in rushing yards in four of their first five contests (332 total rushing yards).
About the Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout at the Swarthmore College and a renowned sports writer and football official.
About the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O'Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O'Brien's enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrienAward.com.
About the Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Award is given annually to the College Football Player of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, selected by a national panel of NCAA Division I FBS head coaches and sports information directors. Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp - a former Yale University athlete and football coach - is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side.
Tickets to Home Games at the Rose Bowl
Various ticket packages, including season, mini-plan and single-game tickets, for the Bruins' inaugural Big Ten season are now available. Fans can click HERE or contact UCLA Athletics Sales and Service at (310) 206-5991 or via email at tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information on personalized ticket options.
Sign up for UCLA Athletics emails HERE to stay up-to-date on inside information, ticket deals and more.
Iamaleava was also named the AP National Player of the Week, the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week and tabbed to the Manning Award "Stars of the Week" list for Week 6 on Monday. Iamaleava was selected for the Davey O'Brien Quarterback of the Week from the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 list, which was announced yesterday.
Iamaleava accounted for a career-high five touchdowns (three rushing, two passing) and 294 yards of total offense to help lead UCLA to its first top-10 victory since 2010. The Long Beach, Calif. native finished with career highs in rushing yards (128) and rushing touchdowns (3) in addition to a career-long 52-yard rush, which was UCLA's longest of the season. It marked the fourth time this season that Iamaleava was the Bruins' leading rusher. Iamaleava's 128 rushing yards are the most by a UCLA QB since Brett Hundley rushed for 131 yards versus Arizona in a 17-7 win on Nov. 1, 2014. He is the first UCLA QB to finish with 100-plus rushing yards in a game since Collin Schlee, who had 127 against Boise State in the 2023 LA Bowl.
Iamaleava's three rushing touchdowns tied a single-game record for a UCLA quarterback, marking just the fifth time in program history a Bruins QB accomplished that feat and first time since 1978 (Rick Bashore vs. Washington State). Former all-American QBs Gary Beban and John Sciarra (twice) also rushed for three TDs in a single game.
Through the air, Iamaleava completed 17 of 24 passes for 166 yards yards and two touchdowns. He had touchdown throws to wide receivers Kwazi Gilmer and Titus Mokiao-Atimalala in the first half, helping the Bruins to a 27-7 lead at the break. Iamaleava connected with Gilmer for a season-long 43-yard completion in the second quarter, which set up an Iamaleava scoring run.
Iamaleava was responsible for all six of UCLA's 20-plus-yard plays on Saturday (four rushes, two passes).
Iamaleava has averaged 190.8 passing yards per game on 98-of-148 passing (66.2%), including six touchdowns, over the first five starts of his UCLA career. He owns all of the Bruins' four rushing touchdowns this season and has led the team in rushing yards in four of their first five contests (332 total rushing yards).
About the Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert "Tiny" Maxwell, a former standout at the Swarthmore College and a renowned sports writer and football official.
About the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award
The Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award is presented annually to the nation's best college quarterback and is the oldest and most prestigious national quarterback award. The Davey O'Brien Award honors candidates who exemplify Davey O'Brien's enduring character while exhibiting teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership in both academics and athletics. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the Davey O'Brien Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in scholarships and university grants to help high school and college athletes transform leadership on the field into leadership in life. For more information, visit www.DaveyOBrienAward.com.
About the Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Award is given annually to the College Football Player of the Year by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, selected by a national panel of NCAA Division I FBS head coaches and sports information directors. Walter Camp, "The Father of American football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp - a former Yale University athlete and football coach - is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side.
Tickets to Home Games at the Rose Bowl
Various ticket packages, including season, mini-plan and single-game tickets, for the Bruins' inaugural Big Ten season are now available. Fans can click HERE or contact UCLA Athletics Sales and Service at (310) 206-5991 or via email at tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information on personalized ticket options.
Sign up for UCLA Athletics emails HERE to stay up-to-date on inside information, ticket deals and more.
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