Nico Iamaleava signed what was considered the largest NIL deal in college football history when he committed to Tennessee in 2022. However, the 20-year-old quarterback may or may not be asking for even more money prior to his junior season.
It depends on who you ask! His no-show at practice on Friday seems to be a telling sign…
Iamaleava, a five-star prospect in the college football recruiting Class of 2023, ranked behind only Arch Manning as the No. 2 player in the country at the time. He served as the backup to Joe Milton as a freshman and led the Volunteers to a victory in the Citrus Bowl during his first career start. Tennessee went 10-3 en route to the College Football Playoff last season. Its sophomore signal-caller completed 63.8% of his passes for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
Iamaleava played well during the regular season but he laid an egg during the Playoff and was sacked for times. Ohio State held him to just 14 completions on 31 attempts for 104 yards without a touchdown.
Even though last year did not end well, a report on Thursday suggested that Nico Iamaleava is actively engaged in contract negotiations with the University of Tennessee through its NIL collective. Pete Nakos of On3 also said that he might enter the transfer portal if he does not get the money he wants. The Vols are scheduled to play their spring game this weekend.
That may or may not be true. Cordell Landers, a close friend of the Iamaleavas, told CBS Sports that nothing is in the works.
The family are happy (with Tennessee). There are no (contract negotiations), they’re happy with the contract they have.
— Cordell Landers
His representatives said the same on Thursday.
Iamaleava’s reps were adamant Thursday to news outlets that there was no NIL renegotiation going on. But sources tell ESPN there has been growing frustration among the administration and players about the situation, especially when Iamaleava didn’t show for practice.
— Chris Low
Nicholaus Iamaleava, the family patriarch, went even one step further. He put Nakos on blast.
More games being played off the field than on the field. B—- Nakos from On3 Sports called and asked me directly, I told him I had no idea on what he’s talking about. He said his “close source” that he trusts with his life from the University of Tennessee staff gave him this information. So y’all can ask them what’s going on, cuz it ain’t from us!
— @Nic_Iamaleava / X
What is the truth? What is real?
Nobody outside of the Iamaleava family and the brass at Tennessee can say for sure. We have two conflicting reports as well as a strong statement from Nico’s father.
And then it all came to a head on Friday morning.
Sources: Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava did not attend Tennessee spring practice today. He’s been in conversations with Tennessee about a new contract. The no-show of practice came as a surprise.
— Pete Thamel
That says just about everything that needs to be said. I don’t understand why the elder Iamaleava would post such a scathing rebuttal to Nakos if his son was going to skip practice just a few hours later, but I guess he is upset that the information leaked. A new suggests that these negotiations — or, perhaps, demands — have been ongoing.
Right before the winter portal closed, Iamaleava’s reps wanted to see his deal upped to $4 million range and again this time as the spring portal opens Wednesday, and according to sources, Tennessee officials said they “weren’t going to blink.”
— Chris Low
Stay tuned. This is going to get messy. Is Nico Iamaleava Iamaleaving Tennessee?!