Following a Faculty Soccer Playoff look with Nico Iamaleava beginning underneath heart, Tennessee is now headed in a special path.
“Tennessee is transferring on from beginning quarterback Nico Iamaleava,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Saturday morning. “Tennessee coach Josh Heupel knowledgeable the crew of the choice at a crew assembly this morning. Iamaleava missed conferences and apply on Friday, which was the motive force of this choice.”
Iamaleava has been within the information for the previous few days for the rocky week that has led to this choice.
It was first reported that Iamaleava was in NIL contract disputes with Tennessee, which was noteworthy contemplating the Spring switch portal opens April 16.
Iamaleava was making an attempt to renegotiate his $10 million cope with the college and Tennessee grew to become conscious that the QB’s crew had reached out to Oregon a few potential switch, ESPN reported.
Oregon was not and a Vols supply advised the web site that “we weren’t going to flinch this time both.”
He then didn’t present the Volunteers or their followers any confidence or readability surrounding the state of affairs when he skipped Friday’s apply amidst the contract negotiations.
His absence at apply reportedly got here as a shock to coaches and gamers, because it was turning into more and more clear that drama was stirring on ol’ Rocky High.
This transfer comes simply hours earlier than Tennessee performs its annual spring recreation at this time, the place Iamaleava is not going to be current.
Iamaleava’s departure leaves simply two scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger the probably starter transferring ahead and true freshman George MacIntyre because the backup. Each kids had been four-star prospects popping out of highschool.
The Volunteers will certainly hit the portal searching for a brand new addition to the quarterback room, however with summer season camps starting quickly, it will be tough to challenge the potential addition as a starter straight away come kickoff within the Fall.
Thamel reported that “officers from Tennessee’s collective have already begun reaching out to 3rd events tied to potential Iamaleava replacements for 2025.”
Iamaleava now turns into probably probably the most sought-after participant within the switch portal when it formally opens on Wednesday.
However equally to Tennessee’s new state of affairs, Iamaleava probably gained’t discover a clean and straightforward transition instantly right into a crew’s beginning quarterback place as a late addition like this might disrupt plans that groups have had in place for a while now.
Iamaleava initially hails from Southern California and has three years of eligibility left following his redshirt freshman season the place he posted 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
