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Where ESPN ranked Nico Iamaleava in the NCAA Transfer Portal Top 100

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•05/17/25•

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Nico Iamaleava-Tennessee-transfer portal

Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was the fifth-best player to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason, according to ESPN’s final ranking of the top-100 portal players. 

Iamaleava was ranked behind new Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, who transferred from Washington State, as well as Miami quarterback Carson Beck (Georgia), Duke quarterback Darian Mensah (Tulane) and Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendzona (Cal).

ESPN’s description of the ranking included “production, experience, potential, demand and feedback from coaches and GMs throughout the sport.”

‘He’ll certainly be motivated after his split with the Vols’

“This ordeal might have played out perfectly for the Bruins,” Olson wrote. “They’re getting a potential top-10 quarterback on a reduced contract who will generate a lot of attention for this program entering coach DeShaun Foster’s second year. 

“Iamaleava’s arrival will cost them App State transfer QB Joey Aguilar, who reentered the portal after going through spring practice with the Bruins and landed at Tennessee.”

Iamaleava passed for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 13 games last season, his first season as Tennessee’s starter. The Vols went 10-3, ending the season with a 42-17 loss at Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.

He was the No. 1 overall prospect when he committed to and signed with Tennessee in the class of 2023.  

“The challenge going forward for Iamaleava,” Olson added, “is learning OC Tino Sunseri’s system and winning over his new teammates this summer, but he’ll certainly be motivated after his split with the Vols.”

Tennessee and Iamaleava parted ways in April after talks over a new NIL deal broke down, leading the quarterback to skip the team’s final spring practice and forcing Josh Heupel to move on.

Joey Aguilar at Appalachian State: 6,760 yards, 56 TDs, 24 INTs

On3’s Pete Nakos reported on Thursday, April 10 that Iamaleava was in contract negotiations for a new NIL deal. He then skipped practice the next morning and was not in contact with Tennessee’s coaching staff through the day.

Heupel told his team the morning of the Orange & White Game on April 12 that the Vols would be moving on from Iamaleava as quarterback.

UCLA was immediately identified as a widely reported possible landing spot for Iamaleava, the Long Beach, Calif., native. North Carolina and Tulane were also said to be interested before backing out.

Aguilar, who in December had transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA, left the Bruins after Iamaleava committed to UCLA on April 20. He committed to the Vols not long after and arrived in Knoxville last week. 

Aguilar threw for 6,760 yards, 56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions and completed 60.1% of his passes in 25 games at Appalachian State over the last two seasons.

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