Saturday, October 25, 2025
Submit Press Release
Got Action
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • NCAA
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Baseball
    • NCAA Sport
  • Baseball
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Formula 1
  • MMA
  • Boxing
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Sports Picks
  • Home
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • NCAA
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Baseball
    • NCAA Sport
  • Baseball
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Formula 1
  • MMA
  • Boxing
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Sports Picks
Got Action
No Result
View All Result

Tennessee moving on from starting QB Nico Iamaleava

April 15, 2025
in NCAA Football
0 0
0
Home NCAA Football
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Tennessee has moved on from starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava, with coach Josh Heupel telling reporters Saturday that “no one is bigger than” the program.

Heupel said the tipping point came Friday morning, when Iamaleava was a “no-show” for practice amid his ongoing NIL contract discussions with the school.

“This program has been around for a long time,” Heupel said after the Volunteers played their spring game Saturday. “There are a lot of great coaches, a lot of great players who came before that laid the cornerstone pieces, the legacy, the tradition that is Tennessee football. It’s going to be around a long time after I’m gone and after they’re gone.”

Iamaleava notified offensive coordinator Joey Halzle late Friday night that he was in the process of filling out his paperwork and planned to enter the transfer portal when it opens Wednesday, sources told ESPN’s Chris Low. Heupel and other staff members had been trying to reach Iamaleava and his representatives to no avail after he missed practice and meetings earlier Friday, sources said.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

Tennessee was aware that Iamaleava’s representatives had reached out to at least one other school, Oregon, prior to the start of spring practice, sources told ESPN, but Oregon said it wasn’t interested.

The day before the winter portal ended in January, Iamaleava’s representatives asked for his deal to increase to the $4 million range, but Tennessee didn’t redo it.

“We weren’t going to flinch this time either,” a source told ESPN.

Iamaleava was making $2.4 million on a contract that was reported to be $8 million when he signed it. But he started receiving payments when he was still in high school, and the total value of the contract would have been closer to $10 million over the life of the deal, sources told ESPN.

Iamaleava just completed his redshirt freshman season, which means he would have three seasons remaining at his next destination. The spring transfer portal opens Wednesday, and he is expected to be the most notable player available.

“I want to thank him for everything he’s done since he’s gotten here, as a recruit and who he was as a player and how he competed inside the building,” Heupel said. “Obviously, we’re moving forward as a program without him. I said it to the guys today. There’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T. That includes me.”

Iamaleava showed promise his first year as a starter, leading Tennessee to the College Football Playoff and a 10-3 season. He threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. He completed 63.8% of his passes.

The Volunteers’ offense finished No. 9 in the 16-team SEC in scoring offense last year in league play, and Iamaleava was the conference’s No. 10 quarterback in passing yards per game (200.6).

The move puts both Tennessee and Iamaleava in difficult situations heading into the 2025 season. Iamaleava’s departure leaves Tennessee with just two scholarship quarterbacks, neither of whom has started a college game.

Heupel said Saturday that the program will look to add another quarterback in the spring portal.

Sources added to ESPN that with Iamaleava’s future uncertain, officials from Tennessee’s collective began to make calls Friday to see what the potential market could look like for his replacement. One quarterback got more money from his school Friday after Tennessee’s collective called third-party officials tied to him, a source told ESPN.

One factor looming over both sides is that SEC rules prohibit transferring within the conference in the spring if the player desires immediate eligibility. That means Iamaleava can’t go to an SEC school and no quarterback on an SEC roster can go to Tennessee if they hope to play in 2025.

This move puts redshirt freshman backup quarterback Jake Merklinger in the driver’s seat to be Tennessee’s starter next year. It’s difficult, though not impossible, for a college quarterback to come in, learn the offense and win the starting job in summer camp. True freshman George MacIntyre is the backup, and Tennessee has a top-10 recruit in the Class of 2026, Faizon Brandon, committed. He is a five-star recruit who is ESPN’s No. 3 overall quarterback.

The market for Iamaleava will be a fascinating one, especially if he is seeking the same amount of money (in the mid-$2 million range). While there is available money in the system the next few months before the era of revenue share is codified, it’s difficult for a program to bring in a quarterback transfer with high-priced NIL demands in the late spring portal.

It not only is potentially disruptive for the current quarterback room, but it also could disrupt the locker room. Also, many schools have their quarterback salaries structured for 2025.

The move to cut ties with Iamaleava has unfolded as a classic tale of modern college football, as he arrived at the school with a historic contract and now leaves both Tennessee’s quarterback room and his own future shrouded in uncertainty.

The Volunteers, meanwhile, move on, with players emphasizing Saturday that the team is greater than any individual.

“I’ve been on some talented teams that haven’t done too well because there were a bunch of individuals on those teams,” senior tight end Miles Kitselman said. “I’m not just saying this to be saying it, but man, this team is different. … This team is a team. Like I said before, there’s no one else I’d rather go to war with and letting these guys know that we’re good with whoever we’ve got back there at quarterback. We’ve got some dogs here, these two guys [Merklinger and MacIntyre].

“We’ve got some guys who want to be here.”



Source link

Tags: IamaleavaMovingNicoStartingTennessee
Previous Post

Reports – Derek Carr has shoulder injury; Saints status iffy

Next Post

Gonzaga’s Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle to Participate in Portsmouth Invitational Tournament

Related Posts

Oregon’s Grateful Dead-themed threads lead top Week 9 college football uniforms
NCAA Football

Oregon’s Grateful Dead-themed threads lead top Week 9 college football uniforms

October 25, 2025
LIVE Updates: Ole Miss vs Oklahoma live score, highlights from the SEC game of the week
NCAA Football

LIVE Updates: Ole Miss vs Oklahoma live score, highlights from the SEC game of the week

October 25, 2025
Oklahoma State approves new 4-year deal for AD Chad Weiberg
NCAA Football

Oklahoma State approves new 4-year deal for AD Chad Weiberg

October 25, 2025
Collins, St. Xavier, Trinity get big Week 10 KHSAA football victories
NCAA Football

Collins, St. Xavier, Trinity get big Week 10 KHSAA football victories

October 25, 2025
Nick Saban issues a warning to future coaches of Penn State, Florida
NCAA Football

Nick Saban issues a warning to future coaches of Penn State, Florida

October 24, 2025
College football Week 9 preview: Texas A&M-LSU, Missouri-Vanderbilt
NCAA Football

College football Week 9 preview: Texas A&M-LSU, Missouri-Vanderbilt

October 24, 2025
Next Post
Gonzaga’s Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle to Participate in Portsmouth Invitational Tournament

Gonzaga’s Nolan Hickman and Khalif Battle to Participate in Portsmouth Invitational Tournament

Inside United | May 2025 edition is on sale now

Inside United | May 2025 edition is on sale now

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
How to Buy COTA Tickets – 2025 United States Grand Prix

How to Buy COTA Tickets – 2025 United States Grand Prix

March 12, 2025
Lee Trevino says this is crucial for solid contact on pitch shots

Lee Trevino says this is crucial for solid contact on pitch shots

August 26, 2025
Another listless, flat tire of a performance – Dodgers Digest

Another listless, flat tire of a performance – Dodgers Digest

August 21, 2025
Is Texas making the right call with reported coaching change?

Is Texas making the right call with reported coaching change?

March 24, 2025
Arthur Jones, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens, dies at 39

Arthur Jones, who won a Super Bowl with the Ravens, dies at 39

October 4, 2025
Prime Video Welcomes Hall-Of-Famer Swin Cash, Former NBA Stars Rudy Gay and Jim Jackson to NBA on Prime Team

Prime Video Welcomes Hall-Of-Famer Swin Cash, Former NBA Stars Rudy Gay and Jim Jackson to NBA on Prime Team

September 25, 2025
Anthony Davis could return to Mavericks’ lineup during upcoming Eastern road trip: Report

Anthony Davis could return to Mavericks’ lineup during upcoming Eastern road trip: Report

487
Avious Griffin Highlights Boxing Insider Promotion’s Card By Stopping Jose Luis Sanchez In 9.

Avious Griffin Highlights Boxing Insider Promotion’s Card By Stopping Jose Luis Sanchez In 9.

42
Getting with the programme | Arseblog … an Arsenal blog

Getting with the programme | Arseblog … an Arsenal blog

6
NHL Rumors: How Can the Los Angeles Kings Not Extend Adrian Kempe?

NHL Rumors: How Can the Los Angeles Kings Not Extend Adrian Kempe?

0
Week of the wonderkids: teenagers light up the Champions League

Week of the wonderkids: teenagers light up the Champions League

0
Virginia vs. UNC: Tar Heels lose as 2-point conversion comes up inches short in OT

Virginia vs. UNC: Tar Heels lose as 2-point conversion comes up inches short in OT

0
Catch up on FP3 from Mexico as Lando Norris tops the timesheets

Catch up on FP3 from Mexico as Lando Norris tops the timesheets

October 25, 2025
Virginia vs. UNC: Tar Heels lose as 2-point conversion comes up inches short in OT

Virginia vs. UNC: Tar Heels lose as 2-point conversion comes up inches short in OT

October 25, 2025
Sources: Falcons highly likely to start Kirk Cousins vs. Dolphins

Sources: Falcons highly likely to start Kirk Cousins vs. Dolphins

October 25, 2025
Oregon’s Grateful Dead-themed threads lead top Week 9 college football uniforms

Oregon’s Grateful Dead-themed threads lead top Week 9 college football uniforms

October 25, 2025
NHL Rumors: How Can the Los Angeles Kings Not Extend Adrian Kempe?

NHL Rumors: How Can the Los Angeles Kings Not Extend Adrian Kempe?

October 25, 2025
Rempe, Reaves trade haymakers early in Sharks’ overtime win

Rempe, Reaves trade haymakers early in Sharks’ overtime win

October 25, 2025
Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn TikTok Pinterest
Got Action

Stay updated with the latest sports news, highlights, and expert analysis at Got Action. From football to basketball, we cover all your favorite sports. Get your daily dose of action now!

CATEGORIES

  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Football
  • Formula 1
  • Golf
  • MLB
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NCAA Baseball
  • NCAA Basketball
  • NCAA Football
  • NCAA Sport
  • NFL
  • NHL
  • Tennis
  • Uncategorized

SITEMAP

  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Submit Press Release
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us

Copyright © 2025 Got Action.
Got Action is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • NCAA
    • NCAA Football
    • NCAA Basketball
    • NCAA Baseball
    • NCAA Sport
  • Baseball
  • NFL
  • NBA
  • NHL
  • MLB
  • Formula 1
  • MMA
  • Boxing
  • Tennis
  • Golf
  • Sports Picks
Submit Press Release

Copyright © 2025 Got Action.
Got Action is not responsible for the content of external sites.