Finally, after weeks of speculation, Nico Iamaleava broke his silence on his departure from Tennessee. As expected, money was the driving factor behind the decision. The two parties failed to reach a deserving agreement that the five-star signal-caller wanted, ultimately leading to his exit from the program.
However, it’s hard to say that moving to UCLA makes him the winner, as his new deal is reportedly worth less than what he was making with the Volunteers. After spending two seasons with the program, saying goodbye wasn’t an easy decision for him. You can see his emotion clearly in a recent farewell message he shared on his Instagram story.
Nico Iamaleava Opens Up About His Feelings That He Will Miss Everyone from the Vols
On Sunday, Nico shared an emotional message on Instagram story with his 203k followers: “gon[na] miss my real ones.” The words carried deep emotion.
Along with the post, he shared a highlight reel from his time in Knoxville, reminding everyone how much that chapter meant to him. To make it even more meaningful, he added a touching soundtrack—Morgan Wallen’s “7 Summers.”
BREAKING: Tennessee transfer QB Nico Iamaleava has officially committed to UCLA🐻
“First and foremost, I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for His grace, for continuing to bless my family, and for allowing me to live out my passion each and every day.
To the… https://t.co/qlGZgsYhJv pic.twitter.com/gqITPUXK3Y
— On3 (@On3sports) April 20, 2025
Iamaleava’s exit from Tennessee became one of the biggest talking points in college football. Following his record-breaking $8 million deal, everyone in the CFB community expected him to lead Josh Heupel’s explosive offense into a new playoff era.
His move will surely be a win for UCLA. During his time as Tennessee’s starting quarterback, Iamaleava completed 213 of 334 pass attempts, throwing for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. Meanwhile, for him, saying goodbye wasn’t easy.
But everything changed in just 72 hours. Nico felt betrayed by Tennessee. His ego and pride came into play when his father and agents pushed for a $4 million yearly deal, but Tennessee refused.
The situation escalated when Iamaleava skipped Tennessee’s final practice before their spring game, prompting head coach Josh Heupel to move forward without him. His ego was hurt so much that he didn’t hesitate to join the Bruins, even though he would earn less there than with the Vols.
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Iamaleava’s exit also sparked controversy among the CFB community, with some labeling him as one of the most disliked players in college football due to the way his departure unfolded. Despite the backlash, he now has a fresh start at UCLA, where he will look to rebuild his draft stock and prove himself in the Big Ten Conference.
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