The Hotline is delighted to provide college football fans with a regular dive into the recruiting process through the eyes and ears of Brandon Huffman, the Seattle-based national recruiting editor for 247Sports. He submitted the following report on April 17 …
The face of NIL, redux
No player in college football has been more attached to name, image and likeness (NIL) than quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
The Southern California native set the college football recruiting world on fire in the spring of 2022 when an article by The Athletic linked an elite prospect to an SEC school for a major payday.
That SEC school was Tennessee, and that quarterback was Iamaleava.
Following the news last week that he and the Vols would be parting ways — after they made the College Football Playoff, no less — it was clear that NIL played a leading role in the divorce.
Media reports linked Iamaleava’s representation to demands for more money from Tennessee. Then Iamaleava missed Friday’s practice. On Saturday, Vols coach Josh Heupel confirmed the separation.
So how does that impact college football on the West Coast?
All signs are pointing to Iamaleava returning to his roots and playing for UCLA.
The Bruins have rarely been discussed in college football in the last seven years, save for coach DeShaun Foster’s ill-fated press conference at Big Ten Media Day last summer.
But now, people are talking about UCLA with Iamaleava reportedly headed there.
No one truly knows the details of the financial package, other than UCLA officials and Iamaleava’s camp. But given the pulse of college football and how much NIL impacts recruiting, it has come full circle with the guy who shattered the glass ceiling.
Now, he has a chance to return home to the school he favored early in his high school career.
Roster cuts, portal entries
Lost amidst the Iamaleava saga was the mass exodus into the transfer portal this week, during the 10-day spring window.
Including the December transfer period, more than 10,000 players across all four NCAA divisions (FBS, FCS, D-II and D-III) have gone into the portal.
With rosters shrinking from 120 players to 105 at the Football Bowl Subdivision level if the House lawsuit settlement is approved, many walk-ons are attempting to transfer. But we’ve also seen a wave of departures from scholarship players who signed from 2023-25.
Washington State lost coach Jake Dickert to Wake Forest in December and replaced him with Jimmy Rogers from South Dakota State.
This week, a number of players who signed with the Cougars the past three recruiting cycles announced they were going into the portal.
Some were encouraged to do so, which isn’t uncommon.
But the development also shows the portal isn’t always a one-way highway, with players seeking a change of scenery or more NIL money. Often, they are nudged into the portal by coaching staffs who have seen the players on the field in spring practice, recognized playing time might be limited and urged the players to seek better opportunities elsewhere.
Bear tailbacks bid bye-bye
No one was hit harder by the portal this week than Cal, which lost four running backs and its starting tight end.
The biggest loss, of course, was tailback Jadyn Ott, who signed with Oklahoma the next day. Ott had toyed with the portal for three seasons and, despite saying he was coming back for the 2025 season, ultimately bounced.
Jaivian Thomas, an Oakland native in line to replace Ott, stunned the Bears when he, too, went in to the portal.
And another East Bay product, tight end Jack Endries, who went from walk-on to a significant part of the offense, announced he was leaving, as well.
Those departures came on the heels of starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza entering the portal in December (and ultimately transferring to Indiana).
Whatever the issue in Berkeley, it won’t help Cal’s depth.
Does prep recruiting matter?
Well, yes, because the players in the portal have to come from somewhere (hint, hint: high school).
Washington State had two commitments visit campus this week. One was an in-state recruit: offensive lineman Kingston Fotualii, who helped O’Dea High School in Seattle win the WIAA 3A state title; the other was safety Bradley Esser, who plays in South Dakota, where WSU coach Jimmy Rogers spent the past three seasons.
Meanwhile Stanford, which has experienced its share of controversy this spring, also stayed in-state for a commitment, landing a pledge from edge rusher Max Meier out of Loyola High School in Los Angeles.
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