Tennessee football is moving on from quarterback Nico Iamaleava, head coach Josh Heupel informed his team on Saturday morning according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
The decision comes after Iamaleava no-showed Tennessee’s Friday practice and went dark on his coaches and teammates, not responding to texts or calls on Friday. There were rumors that Iamaleava was going to enter the portal back in the winter portal period but that never came to fruition. On3’s Pete Nakos reported that Iamaleava and his team were negotiating a new contract with Tennessee on Thursday before the signal caller went dark on his teammates and coaches Friday.
Iamaleava spent two seasons at Tennessee including one as the starting quarterback. The 6-foot-6 signal caller completed 63.8% of his passes for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in his first season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback. He added 358 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
Landing Iamaleava was one of the major gambles and wins of the early part of Josh Heupel’s coaching tenure. Iamaleava was a five-star recruit and a consensus top three recruit nationally in the 2023 recruiting class. The Vols reportedly signed an $8 million NIL deal to secure Iamaleava’s commitment and signature. At the time, it was the biggest NIL deal on record.
But three years after his original commitment, the market value for top quarterbacks is greater than what it was when Iamaleava committed to Tennessee.
More From RTI: What Would A Nico Iamaleava Departure Mean For Tennessee Football?
Iamaleava had an up-and-down 2024 season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback. He started the season red-hot in non conference play before struggling the first half of SEC play. Starting with the second half of the Alabama game, the dual-threat quarterback played better in the back half of SEC play.
While Iamaleava’s play was shaky, Tennessee had success on the field going 10-2 (6-2 SEC) in the regular season and earning a birth in the 12-team College Football Playoffs. While the Vols’ pass protection and receiver play wasn’t a strength, Tennessee’s running game and defense is what carried Tennessee to the 12-team playoff.
Where does Tennessee go without Iamaleava? The Vols have two other scholarship quarterbacks on their roster in redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre. Merklinger has served as Tennessee’s backup quarterback this spring after he was the third string quarterback last season.
The Vols could also look to add a quarterback through the transfer portal in the spring period though the vast majority of transfer quarterbacks make their move in the winter instead of the spring.
8 Responses
This is kind of a crappie move on Nico and his family. Goes to show there is know loyalty in college football anymore. He should have left in the winter. That would have given Tennessee more time to find a quarterback.
Nico isn’t that good anyway seems more like another Milton good riddance
Goodbye and good riddens to Nico Dramaleava! This is the drama queen attitude on steroids with the NIL crap and transfer portal. College football will be a week by week mess for evermore. At least now I won’t have to hunt for a ticket to Neylad Stadium anymore, particularly after raising prices to satisfy over inflated egos of teenage pukes!
I-am-a-leave-a should change his name to Go-da-fuh-on-den. He wasn’t nowhere near as advertised. What a waste!
Not what he did but how. SEC not the conference for him unless he gets on an off field full security detail 😬. TECHNICALLY did not keep eyes on the ball, hand off turn and run with back to the ball, saw this more than once- cringe! As a Lifetime player/coach raised in same Tenn area as Pat-where after class we worked the fields before being permitted to enter the gym. Respect Honor Loalty and boundless Courage for the Game is a Privilege not a Right. With this said thank you for your time, may you find path that meets your needs and Traits …much like a former 1 yr coach that Loves Green Grass. Happy Trails
Good luck,but very ignorant to leave the safety of vol nation!
Why is he asking for 4+ million when hasn’t even earned the 2.5 million that he was being paid. He was a good quarterback against sub-par teams, but struggled against the better SEC teams. Wish his new team that pays him over 1 million luck. Not really worth 500K, overrated coming out of highschool, and collapsing against talented players. Players nowadays have no loyalty, except to Greedy Green dollars.
I sorely underestimated this young man’s character & integrity. With what he’s shown this far, he’ll have a hard time finding that contract. THANK YOU JOSH HEUPEL for not cabing in to this new brand of extortion. NEXT REAL VOL UP!!