Report: Josh Heupel informs team Tennessee is moving on from Nico Iamaleava

Amid the drama between Tennessee and quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the Volunteers have decided to move on from their starting quarterback, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision on Saturday. Iamaleava’s missed meetings and practice on Friday drove the decision.

The ball started to roll when On3 insider Pete Nakos reported Iamaleava and Tennessee were in active negotiations on a new NIL deal ahead of the coming season this past Thursday. At the time, it was unclear how those negotiations might impact Iamaleava’s decision about the Spring transfer portal, which opens next week, but it looks like Tennessee has made the choice for him.

Sources told Nakos that Iamaleava “is happy at Tennessee and has a strong relationship with head coach Josh Heupel.” The two sides were trying to finalize a new contract before Saturday’s Orange-White spring game, but that all changed after Friday’s missed practice and meetings.

Nakos suggested Iamaleava was seeking to amend the original multi-million dollar NIL deal he received when he signed with Tennessee as a five-star recruit in the Class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry Ranking. At the time, Iamaleava’s deal was consideted one of the first significant NIL contracts issued. But the market has since adjusted significantly — especially at the quarterback position.

According to Nakos, Iamaleava’s current contract is somewhere between $2.2 to $2.5 million. In the time since he agreed to his deal, transfers like Miami’s Carson Beck and Duke’s Darian Mensah have reportedly both signed contracts this offseason worth more than $3 million annually. Michigan even gave five-star freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood over $3 million per year, as well. 

Moreover, ESPN’s Chris Low added on Friday that Iamaleava’s team wanted his deal upped into the $4 million range before the winter portal closed, and with the spring portal opening up on Wednesday, the topic has come to fruition again. According to Low’s sources, Tennessee officials have said they “weren’t going to blink” regarding the quarterback.

Continuing, Low added that Iamaleava’s reps were adamant on Thursday to various news outlets that there was no NIL renegotiation going on, refuting Nakos, but sources have since told ESPN there’s been growing frustration among the administration and Volunteers players regarding the situation. That only grew with Iamaleava not showing for practice.

Now, Nico Iamaleava will be moving on, as Tennessee and their quarterback are divorcing. Last season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback, he threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for 358 yards and three more scores on the ground. He started every game for the Volunteers in 2024, helping guide Tennessee (10-3) to its first College Football Playoff berth last season.

— On3’s Alex Byington contributed to this article.