Nico Iamaleava (Photo By Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Things have gone sideways in Knoxville, and fast. Former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, once considered the crown jewel of Tennessee’s future, is officially in the transfer portal. And according to his father, money- or the lack of enough of it- is why.

The elder Iamaleava claims that his son has already received offers “better than what Nico was getting, by a lot.” That’s a bold statement, considering Tennessee reportedly paid the quarterback more than $2 million per season across his first two years. Despite the massive investment, Iamaleava saw limited action as a freshman and only started full-time last season during the Vols’ College Football Playoff run.

Reason Behind The Departure

Nico Iamaleava (Photo By Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The situation took a sharp turn when Nico skipped practice just before Tennessee’s spring game. Less than two days later, head coach Josh Heupel and the Iamaleava camp parted ways. According to multiple reports, Heupel told his quarterback to move on after learning about behind-the-scenes talks led by Nico’s father.

There’s no agent in the picture. Just his dad, navigating the market in search of a higher NIL payday. Tulane quickly emerged as one of the possible landing spots. Other schools reportedly followed, with some willing to put up staggering offers. According to messages shared by @Nic_Iamaleava on X with the account “Blue Blood Bias,” one of the more questionable sources on college football news, Nico’s current offers top $4 million.

“Y’all in the media need to understand this is business first! And we allowed to seek opportunities elsewhere,” Iamaleava’s father said in the direct messages posted by the account.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning’s name even surfaced in the drama, with speculation that he tipped off Heupel about the father’s involvement in recruiting talks. Lanning has neither confirmed nor denied the rumor.

Iamaleava’s situation may be extreme, but it’s a snapshot of where college football stands today. NIL is no longer a sideline topic. It’s the main event. And for families like the Iamaleavas, it’s about securing as much as possible now, especially with uncertain NFL futures.

Whether or not that gamble pays off remains to be seen. But Nico’s college journey is no longer about just football. It’s business, and the stakes have never been higher.