Urban Meyer thinks Tennessee is in a world of trouble for 2025 following the departure of Nico Iamaleava.
Iamaleava was the Vols’ starting quarterback in 2024 as the program reached the College Football Playoff. After trying and failing to secure a larger NIL deal for the upcoming season, Iamaleava held out of spring practice, which led to a “mutual” parting of ways. The former five-star recruit officially entered the NCAA transfer portal Wednesday morning.
On the latest episode of “The Triple Option” podcast with Rob Stone and Mark Ingram II, Meyer warned that Tennessee could be in for a rude awakening without Iamaleava atop its QB depth chart.
“Here’s the reality: Tennessee is screwed,” Meyer said. “They got a problem. You lose a potential high draft pick. You have the backup quarterback left last year and now you have a redshirt freshman that threw nine passes as a freshman. You have zero experience, and the portal opens as we speak. They are going to have to go get one.”
Meyer conceded that it was Vols head coach Josh Heupel’s right to draw a line in the sand that led to Iamaleava jumping ship.
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However, the three-time national champion coach explained, that decision doesn’t come without consequences.
“And here’s the thing, there’s a couple key elements here,” Meyer said. “Everybody’s saying, ‘Nice job Tennessee, making a stand.’ I’ve got a little comment on that. Tennessee plays Florida usually every year in October. Can you imagine that game’s going the other way and coach Heupel grabs the microphone and stands on the 50-yard line in Neyland Stadium and says, ‘It’s OK, I made a stand way back when.’”
Right now, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger is the only QB with experience on Tennessee’s roster. Merklinger appeared in two games last season, throwing for 48 yards on 6-of-9 passing and rushing for 22 yards on seven carries.
Four-star freshman George MacIntyre is Merklinger’s backup at the moment. We would expect the Vols to add at least one more quarterback to the mix from the portal.
[ On3 Sports ]
Related: Big Ten Program ‘Holding Firm’ In Pursuit Of Ex-Tennessee Quarterback Nico Iamaleava
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