What they said about Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava on Friday

What started as a report from On3’s Pete Nakos Thursday saying Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was in contract negotiations took over the news cycle Friday, when it was reported by Volquest’s Austin Price that the redshirt sophomore did not practice with his teammates Friday morning. 

Since then it was has been reported that Iamaleava was not in contact with the Vols through the day on Friday, after surprising coaches and teammates by not showing up for practice with no prior notice.

Iamaleava’s status with the program is unclear as Tennessee heads into its spring finale Saturday afternoon with the Orange & White Game at Neyland Stadium. 

Here’s what was said about the Iamaleava situation on Friday:

ESPN’s Chris Low, via X: Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava, amid reports that he wanted to renegotiate his NIL deal, did not show at Friday morning’s practice, sources told ESPN, and it was a surprise to Tennessee staff members and players. Iamaleava’s reps denied Thursday there was any renegotiation talk … Iamaleava’s reps were adamant Thursday to news outlets that there was no NIL renegotiation going on. But sources tell ESPN there has been growing frustration among the administration and players about the situation, especially when Iamaleava didn’t show for practice … 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.’

ESPN’s Pete Thamel, via X: “Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava did not attend Tennessee spring practice today. He’s been in conversations with Tennessee about a new contract. The no-show of practice came as a surprise.”

ESPN’s Chris Low, via The Paul Finebaum Show: “From the best I can tell, the quarterbacks coach and OC Joey Halzle met at his house and they had dinner. Nico was there. After that, there was not really any contact with him from anybody that I’ve talked to. And then he didn’t show up for practice this morning. Tennessee practices in the morning. It was a surprise to his coaches, to his teammates, nobody heard he wasn’t coming. He just didn’t show up. And I don’t know that they’ve talked to him (since), unless something’s happened in the last hour or so.

“And tomorrow is the spring game, if you want to add more drama to it. You’ve got fans coming on campus, you’ve got the Spring game, there’s going to be media opportunities after the game. I think his parents or at least his father was certainly planning on coming to the spring game. So I don’t know where any of that stands right now. Nor do I think anybody at Tennessee necessarily knows what’s going on right now. It’s a bizarre situation, but I can’t emphasize it enough, I don’t think this is the last of these types of things we’re going to see around college football the next year or two.”

Former Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry, via WVLT: “To be honest with you, I wouldn’t trade my college experience for anything. I talk to my dad about this all the time. Being with my teammates and my brothers and trying to figure out how we’re going to make $96 stretch every month, that’s a part of the bond we created. I think with the guys today, I think they just – regardless if they transferred, go to the transfer portal or want to go to see another opportunity. If you don’t commit to the opportunity within yourself and take full advantage of it, it doesn’t really matter what team or what school you go to or however much money they give you.”

Former Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray, via X: “57th in passing yds and 9th in rushing. Our defense ranked 6th. Think our defense had more to do with our success.”

Former Tennessee receiver Da’Rick Rogers, via X: “The season he had doesn’t demand a renegotiation … It was a barely average season at best. Defense really held it down but him running out of bounds against Arkansas on the last play of the game kills that $4M renegotiation nonsense.”