Nico Iamaleava won’t upgrade his situation after his split with the Tennessee Football program. And, according to ESPN, the Vols are unlikely to upgrade after their breakup with the redshirt freshman quarterback.
ESPN on Tuesday reported, citing sources, that “neither Tennessee nor Iamaleava is likely to have far better options for next season.”
On3’s Pete Nakos reported Thursday that Iamaleava was in contract negotiations for a new NIL deal. He then skipped practice Friday morning and was not in contact with Tennessee’s coaching staff through the day.
Josh Heupel told his team on Saturday morning that the Vols would be moving on from Iamaleava as quarterback.
“Obviously we’re moving forward as a program without him,” Heupel said Saturday afternoon. “ … there’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T and that includes me. And (the players) 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, a lot of great players that came before that laid the cornerstone pieces, the legacy, the tradition that is Tennessee Football. It’s going to be around a long time after I’m done and after they’re gone.”
UCLA has been widely reported as a possible landing spot for Iamaleava, the Long Beach, Calif., native. Nakos has reported over the last two days that both North Carolina and Tulane have backed out of any previous interest the schools had in Iamaleava.
What’s holding back Iamaleava, according to ESPN, is the timing of the transfer during the spring portal window and “the reputational damage from his Tennessee exit.”
“I think he has zero market,” a Power 4 general manager told ESPN. “It will be an interesting test of how smart and disciplined colleges are in looking at him.”
“Absolutely zero interest,” another Power 4 general manager told ESPN.
Tennessee redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre are now the only two quarterbacks the Vols have on roster. Heupel will look to add another quarterback out of the transfer portal.
Iamaleava passed for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 13 games last season, his first season as Tennessee’s starter. The Vols went 10-3, ending the season with a 42-17 loss at Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.
He was the No. 1 overall prospect when he committed to and signed with Tennessee in the class of 2023.
ESPN reported the Vols have “appeared to have little luck in its search for talent,” adding that “at least one starting quarterback has received a raise” after the player’s agent received interest from Tennessee.
“Expect the agents of nearly every established starter in the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 to get a call,” ESPN wrote.
