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Texans’ CJ Stroud Sends Message After UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava’s Revelation About Future
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- Texans’ CJ Stroud Sends Message After UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava’s Revelation About Future
Houston Texans star quarterback and UCLA Bruins star signal-caller Nico Iamaleava have more things in common besides playing the same football position. For one, they are both highly-touted prospects entering college from Southern California.
And even though Stroud is now deep into his career in the pros, he's still keeping in touch with Iamaleava, apparently.
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Iamaleava is done for the remainder of the 2026 campaign after suffering a leg injury in an Oct. 11 game against the Oregon Ducks. Despite this development, Iamaleava still wants to keep his college career going instead of taking the path to the NFL.
"Well, I'm heartbroken the way my season ended. I've finally accepted that this year is really over for me," Iamaleava shared via a social media post on Instagram.
"This wasn't a part of the plan, but I believe everything happens for a reason. I gave this game and my brothers everything I had and I'll continue to lean on God and trust His plan. I'll be back."
Texans QB Stroud Reacts to Iamaleava Post Revealing His Intention to Return For 2027 College Football Season
Sep 13, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) warms up before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Stroud saw that post from Iamaleava, and he reacted to it with a short but meaningful comment.
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"Keep going lil bro!
🙏🏾
Romans 8:28," the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award winner wrote.
Iamaleava started his college career with the Tennessee Volunteers, with whom he played for two seasons. He transferred to UCLA in 2025. In 2026, he went undefeated in five starts, including in the Oregon game, where he suffered the injury.
Before getting ruled out for the rest of the campaign, Iamaleava had racked up 982 passing yards and four touchdowns against four interceptions on a 62.1 percent completion rate.
As for Stroud, it has been a rough go in 2026 so far for him and the Texans, who are just 2-5 through seven weeks of football.
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But Houston has an extra rest in Week 8, giving them ample time to plan on how to turn things around before getting back to action for a Week 9 showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
Oct 10, 2026; Eugene, Oregon, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) makes a pass during the first quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
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The post Texans' CJ Stroud Sends Message After UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava's Revelation About Future appeared first on Gridiron Heroics .
