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Noted lawyer Tom Mars details NIL agreement with Nico Iamaleava

On3 imageby:Brent Hubbs•01/30/24•

Brent_Hubbs

Nico Iamaleava
Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Tennessee is again under investigation by the NCAA as college sports governing body is looking into the NIL practices at Tennessee largely centering around quarterback Nico Iamaleava, but also involving other sports.

Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde broke the initial news on Tuesday. 

In response to the investigation, Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman sent a scathing letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker.

“It is intellectually dishonest for the NCAA enforcement staff to pursue infractions cases as if student-athletes have no NIL rights and as if institutions all have been functioning post-Alston with a clear and unchanging set of rules and willfully violating them,” Plowman stated in the three page letter.”

Late Tuesday afternoon, the New York Times wrote that part of investigation into Iamaleava’s NIL deal centered around the use of a private jet. Tuesday night noted lawyer Tom Mars, who has worked with the Spyre Group, Tennessee’s NIL collective, offered details on Iamaleava’s agreement with Spyre. 

Tennessee received resolution in it’s case involving Jeremy Pruitt last summer and that punishment resulted in a loss of scholarships, a fine and recruiting restrictions.

In this current investigation, Tennessee has not received a formal notice of allegations from the NCAA. 

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