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Boo Carter: Nico Iamaleava 'left his brothers behind' with 'shocking' exit from Tennessee

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•04/28/25•

GrantRamey

Boo Carter
Steve Roberts | Imagn Images

Boo Carter believes Nico Iamaleava should have handled his exit at Tennessee differently, describing the quarterback’s move as “shocking” during a radio appearance in Chattanooga on Friday. 

It was a messy breakup between the Vols and Iamaleava, who was in contract negotiations for a new NIL contract on April 10, before skipping practice the next day. Josh Heupel told his team before Tennessee’s Orange & White Game on April 12 that the Vols were moving on from Iamaleava, who has since signed with UCLA.

“It was really shocking that he left,” Carter said Friday afternoon on WGOW in Chattanooga, according to the Times Free Press. “He left his brothers behind, but this may be a better opportunity for him at the same time. You’ve got to go with your gut, but I feel like he should have stayed and at least talked with the coaches.”

Nico Iamaleava last season: 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, 5 INTs

Iamaleava was not in contact with Tennessee coaches through the day on April 11, after not showing up at practice that morning. 

“We didn’t know what was going on when he didn’t show up for practice that day,” Carter said. “ … When he wasn’t there that entire practice, we kind of knew.

“Coach Heup told us he wasn’t part of the program anymore, and that’s when we really found out he was gone.”

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. 

Tennessee, UCLA swapped quarterbacks through NCAA Transfer Portal

Tennessee ended up trading quarterbacks with UCLA after Joey Aguilar committed to the Vols out of the NCAA Transfer Portal. Aguilar had transferred from Appalachian State to UCLA in December, before the Bruins added Iamaleava. 

Carter said both redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre are ready to go, too.

“I think they’re ready,” Carter said. “I think Jake is ready, because he already has a year under his belt behind Nico, so I feel like he feels comfortable. He likes to get all the boys together, all of the receivers. He’ll have to compete with the new transfer coming in, but I think Jake can get the job done.

“George is doing well for a freshman, and he can throw and run. He’s going to be really good in the next year or two.”

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