Sammy Omosigho and Nico Iamaleava named as UCLA's permanent captains

The UCLA Bruins have announced their two permanent captains for the 2026 season on Tuesday. The duo consists of quarterback Nico Iamaleava and linebacker Sammy Omosigho. Former Oklahoma transfer Omosigho has already made an impact this offseason with his experience, as he played in 37 games for the Sooners before transferring to UCLA.

Iamaleava, who joined the Bruins roster late in the 2025 season, is the more seasoned of the two captains. The selection of a quarterback as a captain is not unusual, but Iamaleava's leadership has been a key focus for the team this offseason. His struggles in his first year with the Bruins have not deterred him from uplifting the offensive line, even though it led to a 3-9 season last year.

Omosigho, on the other hand, has not started his UCLA career yet but has contributed significantly during the offseason. The Bruins program has undergone a major transformation since last season, and the addition of these two captains is a testament to that.