LOS ANGELES — UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava snapped the ball on third down with 1:45 left in the third quarter and rolled out of the pocket to his right with pressure incoming.

Iamaleava’s eyes were downfield as he attempted a pass to fifth-year senior Leland Smith. The ball left his hands just as Purdue linebacker Charles Correa tackled him.

Correa’s hit jolted Iamaleava, who couldn’t brace himself quickly enough to break his fall. His right shoulder got jammed, and his younger brother Madden entered to finish the quarter. Nico returned in the fourth quarter to finish the game, but the injury underscored the value of having both his younger brother and senior Calabasas native Ty Dieffenbach ready if another situation arises.

“(Madden) was out for a minute in the middle of camp, and so was Ty (Dieffenbach), and we are just trying to get them more reps as we are trying to go about everything,” UCLA coach Bob Chesney said. “I think they are doing a really good job.”

Madden Iamaleava’s only pass attempt was incomplete during his one series against Purdue, and he hasn’t played a full game since his junior year at Warren where he threw for 3,626 yards, 43 touchdowns and four interceptions in 2024. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 164 yards and one touchdown in a 24-21 loss to St. Bonaventure in his final Warren game and later graduated from Long Beach Poly.

The 6-foot-6 Dieffenbach took his last snaps at Cal Poly and completed 10 of 23 passes for 119 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and rushed for 4 yards in a 35-27 loss at Northern Arizona on Nov. 15 last season. Before his tenure at Cal Poly, Dieffenbach had transferred from Pitt and played wide receiver for two seasons.

Nico Iamaleava was a full participant in practice on Tuesday, and all indications are he will start Saturday at Maryland (10:30 a.m. PT).

He was an efficient 19 of 31 for 276 yards and three touchdowns in UCLA’s 52-38 victory over Purdue.

But should Nico get hurt, what does having a Madden Iamaleava- or Ty Dieffenbach-led offense look like?

“(Madden) has a really good arm and he can pull the ball down and run,” Chesney said. “So can Ty. It’s a good one-two to have. We just have to make sure we do a good job of developing them.”

Iamaleava’s ability as a dual threat has helped UCLA maintain its flexibility in the running game, decision-making that has led to the Bruins gaining more yards with fewer turnovers and sacks. Through three games against Cal, San Diego State and Purdue, Iamaleava has one fewer interception (two), taken one fewer sack (five), and rushed for more yards (141) than he did when UCLA started 0-3 against Utah, UNLV and New Mexico in 2025.

Early metrics show Iamaleava’s improved decision-making with Chesney as his new coach. Chesney brought along an upgraded offensive line with him, led by James Madison transfers Riley Robell and Carter Sweazie.

Madden Iamaleava and Dieffenbach are available, and Chesney isn’t about to put a leash on his starting quarterback’s abilities as a player with Nico averaging 4.9 yards per carry.

“A lot of times when he pulls it down and runs, that’s a pass play he can check out or throw away, but he sees something in the run game and wants to pull it down and run,” Chesney said. “That’s part of what makes him special. That’s creating. A lot of quarterbacks move around in the pocket to throw and move around to throw it away. He’s pretty special when he gets a chance to run. He’s just got to make sure he keeps himself safe.”