Tennessee, Nico Iamaleava breaking up after shocking $10 million NIL drama
Following a College Football Playoff appearance with Nico Iamaleava starting under center, Tennessee is now headed in a different direction.“Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Saturday morning.“Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting this morning.
Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision.”Iamaleava has been in the news for the past few days for the rocky week that has led to this decision.It was first reported that Iamaleava was in NIL contract disputes with Tennessee, which was noteworthy considering the Spring transfer portal opens April 16. Iamaleava was attempting to renegotiate his $10 million deal with the school and Tennessee became aware that the QB’s team had reached out to Oregon about a potential transfer, ESPN reported.Oregon was not interested and a Vols source told the website that “we weren’t going to flinch this time either.”He then didn’t provide the Volunteers or their fans any confidence or clarity surrounding the situation when he skipped Friday’s practice amidst the contract negotiations.
His absence at practice reportedly came as a surprise to coaches and players, as it was becoming increasingly clear that drama was stirring on ol’ Rocky Top.This move comes just hours before Tennessee plays its annual spring game today, where Iamaleava will not be present.Iamaleava’s departure leaves just two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger the likely starter moving forward and true freshman George MacIntyre as the backup.Both youngsters were four-star prospects coming out of high school.The Volunteers will surely hit the portal looking for a new addition to the quarterback room, but with summer camps beginning soon, it would be difficult to project the potential addition as a starter right away come kickoff in the Fall.Thamel reported that �...