
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has left the group after failed negotiations over his NIL contract. His representatives had pushed to extend his deal from $2.4 million to $4 million, however after they approached the college in January, Tennessee declined.
Iamaleava missed observe on Friday earlier than the group’s Orange & White spring recreation on Saturday – a transfer many have in comparison with an NFL-style holdout. Now, he plans to enter the switch portal on Wednesday. Nevertheless, a number of packages are starting to again away from the scenario, hesitant to get entangled in what’s turning into a sophisticated affair.
On Monday, school soccer analyst Josh Pate spoke on the matter, saying:
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“I feel the most effective factor that would occur for him proper now’s if those that are representing him took the arrows publicly and stepped up and stated it’s on us. We messed this up, we’re the unhealthy man, he didn’t actually have something to do with it, he trusted us and we misrepresented him.
“Trigger at the very least that provides him a combating likelihood to revive his picture and at the very least that provides him a combating likelihood to go play some other place.”
Nico Iamaleava’s switch choices are dropping
Nico Iamaleava spent most of his freshman season in 2023 as a backup. He began within the Citrus Bowl, performed effectively, and gained MVP. In 2024, he grew to become Tennessee’s beginning quarterback and took the group to the playoffs and a 10-3 report. The ability is there, however he’s working out of colleges that need him.
He was initially linked to packages like USC, however now faculties are reportedly backing away after how issues unfolded in Knoxville. John Brice from Soccer Scoop stated that neither USC nor Notre Dame is interested by him. Zach Barnett additionally reported that Texas Tech isn’t planning to go after him both.
The quarterback’s asking worth is dropping as effectively. On3 says some groups would possibly nonetheless need him, however provided that he’s prepared to play for round $1 million, a lot lower than the $2.4 million he was getting with the Volunteers.
After Iamaleava leaves, Tennessee’s choices at quarterback are redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre.
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