Tennessee Head Football Coach Josh Hepel spoke quarterback Nico Iamaleava for the first time since he left the spring roster of volunteers, but his message was clear.
First the team.
I made some iamaleava The history of university sports As the first player to hold back during his time in the NIL after he didn’t show up to practice on Friday while he was trying to negotiate a better payment in Tennessee next season.
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Tennessee Volunteer Head Coach Josh Hepel watched the first half of the match at Ohio Stadium on December 21, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (image)
Tennessee removed the quarterback from its roster ahead of the team’s spring game on Saturday. Iamaleava reportedly intended to enter the transfer portal when it was opened to play elsewhere on Wednesday.
Heupel spoke to Vol Network Saturday. This is the current state of college sports, but does not mean that the team will be in second place.
Tennessee will move from Nicoa Maleava after QB skips practice in negotiations: Report
“It’s a college football situation,” Hapel said. “At the end of the day, no one is bigger than the program, and I include that too.
“We have the opportunity. There are a lot of people in Tennessee who are trying to put their all in. We’re moving forward. We’ve got a great group. Let’s compete.”
Tennessee volunteer quarterback Nico Iamareava is off the field after a victory over the Vanderbilt Commodores at First Bank Stadium on November 30, 2024. (Steve Roberts-imagn image)
Iamaleava is considered one of the outlooks for college football’s top quarterbacks entering the 2025-26 season. However, he wanted to renegotiate a $10 million deal with Tennessee, which lasted for several years. According to ESPN.
ESPN also reports that Tennessee has noticed that Oregon has reached out to Iamaleava about the possibility of joining Amaliaba.
Currently, Heupel searches for new quarterbacks in the forwarding portal.
“That’s a shame, it’s just the situation and where we’re with Nico,” Hepel told reporters. New York Post. “He’s here and I want to thank him for everything he’s done.”
Tennessee head coach Josh Hapel at Volwalk on April 12, 2025, before the Orange & White Spring game. (image.)
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The Vols featured Redshirt freshmen Jake Merklinger and True Freshman George Macintyre on the roster, both of whom played in the spring game on Saturday.
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