Pat Forde considers whether NCAA investigation could impact Nico Iamaleava

The University of Tennessee is under NCAA investigation for multiple “major” NIL violations across the athletic department, according to SI’s Pat Forde. On Tuesday, Forde revealed how these violations could affect Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

“They got a very high-profile commitment from a five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who was a freshman on the team this last year and is expected to be the starter and expected to be a star at quarterback,” Forde said.

“There were all kinds of stories about what his NIL haul was. Now, what was true, what was not true, what was orchestrated, or came through the [Spyre Sports Group] and what didn’t — we don’t know for sure. But, presumably, that’s what the NCAA has been looking into for several months here on this case.”

Iamaleave committed to Tennessee on March 21, 2022. Iamaleava chose the Volunteers over Alabama, Georgia, Oregon, and Miami. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound talent was the No. 6 player in the 2023 recruiting cycle, according to On3 Industry Rankings. Further, he was the No. 3 quarterback.

Iamaleava boasts a $1.2 million NIL valuation, per On3. The figure is the 13th-highest of all college athletes. While Iamaleava’s time on the field was limited this year, he showed promise in short spurts.

Iamaleava finished his debut campaign with 28 completions for two touchdowns and zero interceptions while connecting 62.2% of his pass attempts. The highly-touted freshman’s lone start came in Tennessee’s 35-0 win over Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

In the win, Iamaleava completed 12-of-his-19 pass attempts for 151 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, Iamaleava rushed for 27 yards and three scores. Forde believes Tennessee fans shouldn’t hit the panic button quite yet on Iamaleava’s future.

How should Tennessee fans react?

“Anybody who has signed an NIL agreement, if the [NCAA] goes back and finds problems with it, could those athletes be facing sanctions? In theory, yes,” Forde said. “But, trying to predict what the NCAA will do is a complete fool’s errand. They are the most unpredictable entity on Earth.

“If I were a Tennessee fan, I would be nervous and I would be watchful, but I wouldn’t sit there and say, ‘Oh, my gosh, we’re doomed,’ or anything like that. I think you kind of let this play out. The cake could be baking for quite a while on this, especially if Tennessee is going to turn this into a long-pitched battle.”

At the current rate, it appears Tennessee is prepared to do just that. Following Forde’s report, Tennessee chancellor Donde Plowman sent a scathing letter to NCAA president Charlie Baker. Amid other complaints, the letter had a central message: “In short, the NCAA is failing.”