A report has surfaced around Nico Iamaleava committing to the North Carolina Tar Heels, followed by a bold four-word message. This reporting, however, appears to have come from a parody account after Iamaleava’s dramatic NIL split from Tennessee over a multi-million dollar dispute.
Nico Iamaleava’s Current Commitment Status
The news of Iamaleava’s commitment will be big news for the college football landscape. Not just because of his high platform as an athlete, but because of how he split from the Tennessee Volunteers.
As such, many are going to try to be first to the news around his next stop. North Carolina and Tulane have popped up quickly as the top two schools of need and with potential joint interest.
The parody account No3Sports jumped on the potential, citing that Iamaleava committed to North Carolina on Monday afternoon, but no official statement had been released from Iamaleava, North Carolina, or a reputable media outlet.
At this time, the news of Iamaleava to UNC cannot be confirmed nor denied.
Why Iamaleava Is a High-Profile Transfer
Iamaleava was once Tennessee’s golden boy. As a five-star recruit, he reportedly signed a huge $8 million NIL deal before he even played a game for them. On the field, he did well, throwing for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns last season while helping Tennessee reach the College Football Playoff for the first time.
But things fell apart when Iamaleava wanted more money.
After the season, he and his team tried to increase his yearly payment to $4 million, which was up from the $2.2 million he had already been getting. Tennessee said no to this request. The situation got worse quickly – Iamaleava started missing practices, his family publicly criticized Tennessee, and finally, the school decided to move on without him.
North Carolina, now coached by Bill Belichick, has reportedly been quick to show interest. But, as stated above, it’s unclear whether or not this is a realistic landing spot for Iamaleava.
Players Have More Power Than Ever
Iamaleava’s story shows how college sports are changing.
His original Tennessee contract helped set new standards for what top recruits can earn. His public holdout and transfer show the growing power that star players now have. But there are still limits to that power – Tennessee stood firm, and Iamaleava faced harsh criticism from fans and media.
NEW: Latest intel on Tennessee transfer QB Nico Iamaleava👀
(via @PeteNakos_)
Read: https://t.co/60ckCH3Fmc pic.twitter.com/pAxn80unmB
— On3 (@On3sports) April 14, 2025
For Iamaleava, landing at his next college will signify a fresh start and a chance to prove himself.
KEEP READING: Dan Orlovosky Shifts Blame to NCAA for Fan Hate Towards Nico Iamaleava After Huge Tennessee Transfer Portal Call
For wherever he lands, getting Iamaleava will show that A) that team is serious about competing at the highest level and B) they’re all in on paying for talent.
As the 2025 season gets closer, everyone will be watching to see where Iamaleava will land.
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