Report: Tennessee offered Josh Hoover more than $1 million raise

TCU quarterback Josh Hoover has turned down an offer from Tennessee that would have granted him a $1 million raise, choosing to remain the quarterback of the Horned Frogs, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Saturday.

Hoover is 11–8 as a starter with the Horned Frogs, including a 9-4 mark in 2024 when he threw for 3,949 yards. ESPN reported Saturday that one quarterback already got more money from his school Friday after Tennessee’s collective called third-party officials tied to him. Multiple sources have told On3 that they expect a ripple effect, with non-SEC Power Four quarterbacks around the country expected to receive raises in light of the Tennessee opening.

Hoover played high school football at Rockwall-Heath (TX), where he was a three-star recruit in the 2022 cycle. He ranked as the No. 714 overall player and No. 41 quarterback in the cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Tennessee recently lost its starting quarterback in Nico Iamaleava after he attempted to negotiate his NIL money with the team. Iamaleava was reported to be earning between $2.2-25 million as per the agreement of his initial contract but his new deal will likely fall short of the initial offer from the Vols.

Regardless, Iamaleava will make upward of $1 million with the Bruins in 2025. Now Tennessee is left searching for a new starting quarterback in the aftermath, but it won’t be Hoover.

This story will be updated.