Following the Tennessee Volunteers’ decision to allow Nico Iamaleava to enter the transfer portal rather than re-signing him to a more lucrative NIL deal, debates have erupted over whether the Volunteers made the right move.
Iamaleava had previously signed an NIL deal reportedly worth $2 million, making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in college football. After redshirting as a freshman, he started his first full season in 2024, completing 241 passes for 2,930 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Why Urban Meyer Took Aim at Tennessee
In a recent interview with On3, former college football and NFL head coach Urban Meyer slammed Tennessee for letting Iamaleava walk, saying the program was now “screwed” and facing serious issues.
“Tennessee is screwed. They’ve got a problem,” 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 (Josh) 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.’”
Some fans quickly jumped in to dispute Meyer’s claims, noting that Tennessee and Florida have rarely played in October.
“Also, Florida and Tennessee literally never play in October. Only twice since 1991. Urban needs to be checked for CTE,” one fan mocked.
The Volunteers and Gators are set to face off on Nov. 22 this year.
Iamaleava’s ‘Zero Market’ Story Exploded
Reports surrounding Iamaleava’s transfer saga took a turn after Tulane pulled out of a deal due to disagreements between the player’s camp and the school over contract terms.
According to CJ Mordock, Tulane had offered upwards of $3 million—nearly double what Iamaleava made at Tennessee.
“Tulane put together an impressive offer,” Mordock wrote. “But too much back and forth between Nico’s camp and the coaching staff. Tulane wanted to get a deal done quickly. The dad is LaVar Ball without the charm.”
Iamaleava’s father has previously been involved in his son’s business dealings, including a dispute with On3’s Pete Nakos.
“I think he has zero market,” said a Power Four general manager in an interview with ESPN. “It will be an interesting test of how smart and disciplined colleges are in looking at him.”
KEEP READING: Biggest Surprises to Enter the Transfer Portal This Spring
While some programs are reportedly monitoring the situation and hoping to land Iamaleava at a lower price, there is currently “zero interest” in the quarterback at his current asking price.
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