Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava removed due to NIL disagreement

Starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava has departed from Tennessee due to a contract dispute, according to multiple reports on Saturday.

Iamaleava will not be participating in the spring Orange & White game on Saturday and is no longer a part of the program, as reported. Coach Josh Heupel is expected to address the situation after the game.

The discussions between Iamaleava and the school were centered around his name, image, and likeness money. The Knoxville News Sentinel stated that the 20-year-old was seeking an increase from his annual NIL package of over $2 million, with ESPN adding that he was looking to double that amount.

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He did not attend practice on Friday and is not communicating with coaches, which appears to have been the final straw for Heupel and Tennessee.

The spring transfer portal will open on Wednesday, giving Iamaleava the opportunity to enter. As a redshirt sophomore, he still has three seasons of eligibility remaining.

In the absence of Iamaleava, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre are now the frontrunners for the starting quarterback position. Heupel may also consider looking to the transfer portal for an experienced QB.

According to ESPN, officials from Tennessee's NIL collective have already been in contact with representatives for potential 2025 quarterbacks.

Iamaleava had limited playing time as a freshman in 2023 before taking over as the starting quarterback last fall. In his first season as a starter, he completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns with only five interceptions, leading Tennessee to a 10-3 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Vols finished ninth in the final AP poll after their 42-17 loss to eventual champion Ohio State in the first round.

During his time in high school in Southern California, 247Sports ranked Iamaleava as the second-best quarterback and second-best player in the nation in the Class of 2023, behind Arch Manning.

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