Sources: Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava to enter transfer portal
Iamaleava did not attend practice and meetings on Friday amid reports that he wanted to renegotiate his NIL deal with the program. (Iamaleava's father disputed a story by On3.) His absence was unexpected and people within the Tennessee program were reportedly frustrated by the attempt to change an agreement that was the richest in college football when Iamaleava signed it in 2023.
'Today's landscape of college football is different from what it has been," Heupel said after the Volunteers' spring game on Saturday. "It's unfortunate, just the situation and where we're at with Nico. I want to thank him for everything he's done since he's gotten here — as a recruit to who he was as a player. And how he competed inside of the building. So we're in appreciation for that side of it.'
'Obviously we're moving forward as a program without him. I said it to the guys today — there's no one that's bigger than the Power T. And that includes me. And they hear me say that a lot inside of that team room. This program has been around for a long time with a lot of great coaches, lot of great players that came before that laid the cornerstone pieces, the legacy, the tradition that is Tennessee football is going to be around a long time after I'm done and after they're gone. And that's what's special about being here is that there's a legacy and a tradition that is so rich. Our logo that's recognized not just across the nation, but across the world too. And today you got a chance to see 110 guys that ran out and competed their butts off and give their all for Tennessee and do it the right way and really proud of the spring that they've had and also how they've culminated it as well.'
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Rivals' No. 2 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class out of Warren High School in Downey, California, Iamaleava signed a four-year deal with Tennessee and its Vols Club collective for a reported $8 million, with $2.2 million of that to be paid for the 2025 season.
Yet the NIL market for quarterbacks has seen major changes recently. Carson Beck reportedly received $4 million from Miami after he transferred from Georgia, while Darian Mensah will get the same in his deal with Duke upon transferring from Tulane.
The spring transfer window opens on April 16 and will close on April 25. To be immediately eligible, Iamaleava has to play for a school outside the SEC thanks to a conference rule prohibiting players from transferring within the SEC in the spring transfer window.
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In his first full season as Tennessee's starting QB, Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns (with five interceptions), completing 63.8% of his passes. Additionally, he rushed for 358 yards and three scores on 109 carries. Against Ohio State in the CFP, Iamaleava completed 14-of-31 passes for 104 yards while rushing for 47 yards and two TDs. The Vols went 10-3 overall.
Redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger is in position to take over as the Vols' starting QB with true freshman George MacIntyre also on the depth chart. However, Tennessee's NIL collective has begun checking on potential transfers, according to ESPN.
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