Nico Iamaleava’s split with Tennessee gives college football programs a high-profile quarterback to target this spring. However, Bill Belichick reportedly is unlikely to snag him as North Carolina’s new starter.
After leading the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman, Iamaleava entered the transfer portal. He skipped Friday’s mandatory spring practice while attempting to renegotiate his NIL deal.
Some observers identified the Tar Heels as a potential landing spot, but a report poured cold water over that possible pairing.
According to On3’s Pete Nakos, North Carolina is out of the running for Iamaleava. Belichick’s program could pivot to another recent transfer.
Nakos and ESPN’s Eli Lederman identified UNC as a suitor for South Alabama’s Gio Lopez, who entered the portal on Monday.
Belichick shocked the football community by taking the North Carolina job. He’ll take over an ACC program that went 6-7 last year.
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Omarion Hampton, a potential first-round pick in this month’s NFL Draft, powered UNC’s offense with 1,660 rushing yards last season. Meanwhile, Tar Heels quarterbacks completed 58.7 percent of their passes for 2,917 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Iamaleava posted a 63.8 percent completion rate last season with 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He took Tennessee to the College Football Playoff after throwing four touchdowns in each of the regular season’s final two games.
While Iamaleava would represent an upgrade under center in Chapel Hill, he’d probably come at a step cost. The 20-year-old reportedly wanted an NIL raise to $4 million from the Volunteers.
Belichick could instead pursue Lopez, who registered a 150.2 quarterback rating with 8.2 yards per attempt last season. The redshirt freshman accrued 18 passing and seven rushing touchdowns during South Alabama’s 7-6 campaign.
UNC needs a new starting quarterback after Jacolby Criswell transferred to East Tennessee State. Four-star recruit Bryce Baker, who committed while Mack Brown was coach, signed with the Tar Heels after Belichick’s hiring. The team also added class of 2025 recruit Au’Tori Newkirk and Purdue transfer Ryan Browne.
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