by Cole Johnson

Sat, April 12th 2025 at 12:19 PM

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, right, and defensive back Rickey Gibson III, left, celebrate the team’s 36-23 win against Vanderbilt after an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WCYB) — Sources tell ESPN that in the wake of his decision to not attend Friday’s spring practice due to NIL negotiations with the school, Tennessee Vols football is moving on from quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

Ahead of the team’s annual Orange & White spring game Saturday afternoon, head coach Josh Heupel informed the team at a meeting in the morning.

Now, Iamaleava is expected to enter the transfer portal when it opens back up on Wednesday.

The standoff began this winter when the school decided to cut ties after talks emerged about increasing Iamaleava’s NIL contract to $4 million, and Tennessee did not redo the deal. Then those contract talks became public this week, leading to his skipping of practice on Friday.

Sources also reveal that Iamaleava’s representatives had reached out to at least one other school, Oregon, prior to the start of spring practice.

Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions – completing 63.8% of his passes in 2024, helping the Vols to the College Football Playoff before losing to Ohio State.

The redshirt sophomore will have three years of eligibility remaining.