Josh Heupel thanks Nico Iamaleava for time at Tennessee, addresses departure

Tennessee‘s 2025 spring showcase in front of fans inside Neyland Stadium went on without a hitch despite the news that starting QB Nico Iamaleava would be leaving the program to enter the transfer portal. Of course, head coach Josh Heupel was pressed to comment on the matter after the annual showcase concluded.

After an opening statement about the scrimmage, Heupel took a moment to thank Iamaleava for his contributions to the Tennessee program after the spring game. However, he noted on the theme that no single player is bigger than the program.

“It’s unfortunate, just the situation and where we’re at with Nico,” Heupel said after the spring game. “I want to thank him for everything that he’s done since he’s gotten here. That’s as a recruit to who he was as a player and how he competed inside of the building. So a great appreciation for that side of it. 

“Obviously we’re moving forward as a program without him. I said it to the guys today, there’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T and that includes me. And they hear me say that a lot inside of that team room. This program has been around for a long time with a lot of great coaches, a lot of great players that came before that laid the cornerstone pieces, the legacy, the tradition that is Tennessee Football. It’s going to be around a long time after I’m done and after they’re gone. And that’s what’s special about being here is that there is a legacy and a tradition that is so rich and a logo that’s recognized not just across the nation but across the world too.”

Heupel said that Saturday was an opportunity for fans to see all 110 members of the Tennessee roster compete, doing it the “right way.” He’s proud of the spring his team was able to piece together and giving the circumstances, compete in the spring showcase and put on a fun event for the fans in attendance.

The Tennessee head coach admitted that his Vols have a ways to go before going out this fall and competing at a playoff level each weekend. Still, Heupel feels confident his guys are on schedule to produce some monumental moments in the 2025 season. After all, Heupel took over the program coming off a 3-7 season and hasn’t missed a bowl game since.

“Our coaches and staff, guys have been here over the last four years have rebuilt this program and it’s built to win,” Heupel said. “And I say that as we’re moving forward from today, too, this program is ready to go win next fall. And as a program since we’ve been here, we’ve won with a lot of different QB’s. Done it historically in my career with a lot of different QBs. Some of those guys have been older, some of them have been younger, but we’ll have a quarterback that’s ready to go win and help us compete for a championship.”