Tennessee is ditching quarterback Nico Iamaleava after he missed spring practice on Friday, it has been reported.
According to ESPN, Iamaleava’s absence surprised both his teammates and his coaches and comes amid negotiations over an NIL deal.
But on Saturday morning, it emerged that coach Josh Heupel told the team that they are moving on from Iamaleava.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel said that Iamaleava’s absence on Friday forced the decision and added that he will not be involved in the annual spring game that Tennessee is hosting today.
The 20-year-old Iamaleava is now expected to enter the spring transfer portal, which opens on Wednesday.
The current situation might qualify as one of college football’s first-ever contract holdouts.
Tennessee is ditching quarterback Nico Iamaleava after he missed spring practice
ESPN reported that Iamaleava’s existing deal, which is scheduled to pay him more than $8million over his entire college career, is being rejected by Iamaleava and his camp, who desire $4million a season instead.
Iamaleava played sparingly as a freshman in 2023 before taking over the starting role last fall. In his first season as a starter, he completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns against five interceptions, leading Tennessee to a 10-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.
The Vols finished ninth in the final AP poll following their 42-17 first-round loss to eventual champion Ohio State.
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