Quarterback Nico Iamaleava‘s time with Tennessee football is over.
On Saturday morning, coach Josh Heupel informed the team that the Vols are moving forward without Iamaleava, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told Knox News. The source requested anonymity because Heupel has not addressed the matter publicly.
A UT football spokesperson confirmed that Iamaleava will not attend UT’s Orange and White Spring Game on Saturday (2 p.m. ET) at Neyland Stadium. Heupel will address the situation following the game.
The transfer portal opens on April 16. Iamaleava, UT’s one-time blue-chip quarterback, is expected to enter it following what appeared to be a holdout. Iamaleava sought a renegotiation to his NIL deal, which reportedly paid him more than $2 million per year. And then he missed UT’s final practice of spring on Friday.
It’s a shocking end to the Vols’ three-year marriage to Iamaleava that began with a blockbuster NIL deal, survived an NCAA investigation and concluded with an underwhelming debut season as the starter.
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Iamaleava, the five-star recruiting gem, signed an NIL contract in March 2022 that could’ve paid him more than $8 million by the end of his third year at UT. ESPN’s Chris Low, citing sources, reported that Iamaleava’s representatives wanted his NIL pay increased to $4 million per year, using the possibility of him entering the portal as leverage.
Now Iamaleava can test that market.
Did Nico Iamaleava pan out as Tennessee’s quarterback?
Iamaleava leaves UT after two seasons that included a 2023 redshirt year and one season as the starter in 2024. He played 18 games with 14 starts for the Vols.
He completed 241 of 379 passes for 2,930 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions. And he rushed for 435 yards and six TDs, although three of those scores were in his first start as the Citrus Bowl MVP following the 2023 season.
Iamaleava faced enormous expectations in the 2024 season, which he didn’t reach. He got preseason Heisman Trophy buzz before even starting an SEC game.
Iamaleava was solid but unspectacular individually. He racked up big stats against mediocre opponents but struggled against the best teams on the Vols’ schedule. And he got little help from an offensive line that didn’t protect him and receivers who sometimes didn’t get open.
Iamaleava passed for 2,616 yards, 19 TDs and five interceptions in 2024.
The offense struggled at times. But Iamaleava improved late in the season and led UT to a 10-3 record and its first appearance in the College Football Playoff.
It was supposed to be the first big step of the Iamaleava era. Instead, it was the last.
Why Nico Iamaleava will enter transfer portal
Iamaleava’s complete motives for leaving UT after just one season as the starter aren’t clear. But his NIL pay is obviously a major factor, and a perceived lack of a supporting cast could be another contributor.
Iamaleava was paid very well, especially considering he has yet to reach lofty expectations as arguably the nation’s No. 1 prospect in the 2023 recruiting class.
However, price tags for transfer quarterbacks continue to soar. So he may find a buyer with a bigger checkbook elsewhere. Miami’s Carson Beck and Duke’s Darian Mensah got close to $4 million, CBS Sports reported, but they had to go into the portal to get those deals.
Another potential reason is that UT hasn’t given Iamaleava enough help to succeed in 2025. The Vols had to replace four starters on the offensive line, the top three receivers and running back Dylan Sampson, the 2024 SEC Offensive Player of the Year.
They added Arizona transfer Wendell Moe and Notre Dame transfer Sam Pendleton on the offensive line and Duke transfer Star Thomas at running back. But UT is still thin and inexperienced at wide receiver after not adding a wideout during the winter portal.
Who are Tennessee’s remaining quarterbacks?
The Vols are left with two scholarship quarterbacks on their 2025 roster. And they can try to add a quarterback from the portal, although good options may be limited.
Jake Merklinger, a former four-star recruit, passed for 48 yards in two games as a freshman in 2024. He was the No. 11 quarterback in the 2024 class, according to 247Sports Composite rankings.
George MacIntyre, a four-star recruit, signed with UT in the 2025 class. He arrived on campus last week as an early enrollee. The former Brentwood Academy standout was ranked the No. 9 quarterback in the 2025 class.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email[email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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