Nico Iamaleava's time with Tennessee football is over in stunning development

 Ads

Nico Iamaleava's time with Tennessee football is over in stunning development

Ads

Ads
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava's time with Tennessee football is over.
Ads
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.
Ads







Ads

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.
Ads
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.

Ads


Ads

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.

Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
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.
Ads
Now Iamaleava can test that market.


Add

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.

Get the Daily Briefing newsletter in your inbox.
Start your day with the morning's top news

Delivery: Daily
Your Email
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.
Ads
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

Ads
Location: United States

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Title: Trump and Harris Enter Final Campaign Week: Swing-State Vote Breakdown

Image
  As Kamala Harris and Donald Trump enter the final week of their campaigns, the race remains tight in several key swing states, each essential for securing the Electoral College majority. In Georgia, Trump maintains a narrow lead, hovering around 48-49% compared to Harris's 47-48%, according to RealClearPolitics and other polling aggregates. This margin highlights the state’s competitiveness, given Georgia’s recent Democratic gains in the 2020 election. Michigan presents a mixed picture, with Harris holding slight leads in some polls, like FiveThirtyEight’s 47.8% to Trump’s 47%. However, Trump's support among undecided voters could sway results, especially as the Arab American Political Action Committee in Michigan has opted not to endorse either candidate due to concerns about U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. In Pennsylvania, a vital state for both candidates, Harris is either slightly ahead or in a statistical tie with Trump, depending on the poll. With both ca...
Read more

Hudson Helicopter Crash: Siemens Spain Executive Agustin Escobar & Family Killed In NYC Helicopter Crash

Image
  Hudson Helicopter Crash: Siemens Spain Executive Agustin Escobar & Family Killed In NYC Helicopter Crash. Six people were killed after a helicopter carrying tourists for a sightseeing tour crashed into the Hudson River in New York. As per authorities, the family of five were tourists from Spain, including Siemens CEO Agustin Escobar, his wife, three children, and the helicopter pilot. Mourning the death of the six people, NYC Mayor Eric Adam told reporters, "At this time, all six victims have been removed from the water. And sadly, all six victims have been pronounced deceased. Our hearts go out to the families." US President Donald Trump also reacted to the crash and said, “Terrible helicopter crash in the Hudson River. Looks like six people, the pilot, two adults, and three children, are no longer with us. The footage of the accident is horrendous.” As per witnesses on the scene, the helicopter reportedly "split in half" and "fell apart" as i...
Read more