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Report: Tennessee 'moving on' from quarterback Nico Iamaleava

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•04/12/25•

GrantRamey

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava and coach Josh Heupel. Credit: UT Athletics
Credit: UT Athletics

Tennessee Football is “moving on” from redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava, according to a report from ESPN on Saturday. The Vols are set to conclude spring practice with the Orange & White Game Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that head coach Josh Heupel told his players of the decision Saturday morning.

“Tennessee is moving on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava,” Thamel reported on Saturday. “Tennessee coach Josh Heupel informed the team of the decision at a team meeting this morning. Iamaleava missed meetings and practice on Friday, which was the driver of this decision.”

On3 Report: Nico Iamaleava plans to enter NCAA Transfer Portal

On3’s Pete Nakos on Saturday morning reported that Iamaleava plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal. The spring portal window opens Wednesday.

Nakos first reported Thursday that Iamaleava was in contract negotiations for a new NIL deal. It was reported by Volquest’s Austin Price Friday that the redshirt sophomore did not practice with his teammates Friday morning.

It was a widely reported later that the absence took Tennessee coaches and players by surprise. Iamaleava was not in contact with Tennessee on Friday.

The Orange & White Game, which will feature sophomore Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre at quarterback, is scheduled for a 2 p.m. Eastern Time start on Saturday. The annual spring game is not televised this year, but can live updates can be followed on The General’s Quarters and play-by-play can be heard on The Vol Network.

Iamaleava last season threw for 2,616 yards, with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 13 games, completing 63.8% of his passes. He had a career-high 314 yards passing in the season-opening win over Chattanooga and a season-high four passing touchdowns in the win over Vanderbilt on November 30. 

Iamaleava was a five-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, ranked No. 1 overall in the On3 ratings. He was the No. 1 quarterback in the class in the On3 ratings and was the No. 1 overall player in the state of California, out of Warren High School in Long Beach.

He enrolled at Tennessee in 2022 and backed up Joe Milton III during the 2023 season. Iamaleava appeared in five games as a freshman, passing for 314 yards and two touchdowns, completing 62.2% of his passes. 

Vols finished 12th in the SEC in passing offense last season

Iamaleava threw for 200 yards or less in eight games last season. Of his 19 touchdown passes, 11 came against Vanderbilt (4), UTEP (4) and Chattanooga (3). The Vanderbilt game accounted for nearly half of his touchdowns passes in SEC play (9). 

Tennessee’s offense struggled last season, with the Vols getting shut out in the first half of three straight games — at Arkansas, Florida and Alabama. 

The Vols finished second in scoring offense in the SEC, averaging 35.5 points per game, while leading the league in rushing at 225.85 yards per game. They were 12th in passing offense averaging 221.2 yards per game. 

Iamaleava helped lead Tennessee to 10 wins and a No. 9 seed in the first 12-team College Football Playoff, but the Vols lost 42-17 at No. 8 Ohio State. Iamaleava threw for 104 yards and rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns in the loss. 

“Yeah, obviously in the offseason, me, Coach Joey (Halzle), and Coach Heup are always have conversations about how we can excel this offense,” Iamaleava said after the loss at Ohio State, “and it’ll be that in the offseason, too.”

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