Report: Nico Iamaleava representatives have previously discussed Tennessee QB transferring with other schools

Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava is the biggest story in college football right now with what’s reportedly going on to end this week at spring practice over on Rocky Top. This apparently isn’t the first time that some of this has allegedly happened, though, in regards to the Volunteers’ quarterback.

On3’s Pete Nakos began reporting on ongoing negotiations between Iamaleava and the Vols on Thursday with the latest development being that Iamaleava missed practice on Friday. ESPN’s Chris Low has since tweeted out several notes about that news, including the fact that this supposedly isn’t the first time that those representing the quarterback have had conversations with other schools.

“One thing to add here is that Josh Heupel and Iamaleava have a very healthy relationship. But this is not the first time Iamaleava’s reps have talked to other schools over the last few months,” Low tweeted on Friday.

Again, Low has posted a few tweets since news of Iamaleava’s absence at practice this morning. One of those was the apparent demands by his representation, both by the end of the last portal cycle and ahead of the spring one next week, as far as increasing his payout in name, image, and likeness along with the school’s response to those.

Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit for the Volunteers, would be coming into his second season as the Volunteers’ starting quarterback. That’s after posting 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions on 63.8% completion, while also rushing for 358 yards and three more scores, as a redshirt freshman last year. Tennessee would go 10-3 overall in that season, earning their debut appearance in the College Football Playoff. With that, he would be considered one of the top players in the portal over this entire offseason if he were in fact to decide to actually enter it.

This is a major story out of Knoxville considering the point of year it’s happening and the importance of Iamaleava to the program. That’s why Tennessee, as well as other programs nationally apparently, could be taking notice of his status for tomorrow’s spring game.

Nico Iamaleava: Tennessee QB’s NIL demands, Vols stance revealed

ESPN’s Chris Low revealed today that the representation for Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava originally sought a huge payday back in December. His representatives looked to increase the quarterback’s deal to the “$4 million range” in NIL just before the end of the window transfer portal window, per his report. Still, those with the Volunteers “weren’t going to blink” at those demands.

Right before the winter portal closed, Iamaleava’s reps wanted to see his deal upped to $4 million range and again this time as the spring portal opens Wednesday, and according to sources, Tennessee officials said they “weren’t going to blink.”

— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) April 11, 2025

According to VolQuest’s Austin Price, Iamaleava was absent from Friday’s spring practice amid ongoing negotiations with Tennessee to amend the original deal in name, image, and likeness. Iamaleava signed that as a five-star recruit back in the 2023 recruiting class.