Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel. Saul Young/News Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tennessee HC Josh Heupel has telling comment on Nico Iamaleava controversy

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Apr 13, 2025 9:08 AM ET

Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel offered a telling quote about quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s NIL controversy and departure.

Heupel discussed Iamaleava’s decision to enter the transfer portal after failing to come to a new NIL agreement with Tennessee. While Heupel stopped short of calling out Iamaleava, his comment about the quarterback’s decision certainly felt quite pointed.

"It’s the state of college football," Heupel said. "At the end of the day, no one is ever bigger than the program. That includes me, too. We’ve got an opportunity. We’ve got a bunch of guys that will give their all for Tennessee."

Tennessee’s Josh Heupel, on Nico Iamaleava, to @VolNetwork

“It’s the state of college football. At the end of the day, no one is ever bigger than the program. That includes me, too. We’ve got an opportunity. We’ve got a bunch of guys that will give their all for Tennessee”
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) April 12, 2025

Whether meant that way or not, many read the last part of Heupel’s comments as a shot at Iamaleava. The implication is that the quarterback was focused on things other than the team, and the remaining Vols players do not share that lack of focus.

Heupel’s comments are somewhat backed by the fact that Iamaleava was a no-show at Friday’s practice as his NIL dispute wore on. That was said to be a major inflection point for Tennessee and a big incentive for the school to simply move on. If so, it certainly underlines Heupel’s message that the program has to come first.

Iamaleava was looking for a significant raise in his NIL deal before things went south with Tennessee. He will enter the transfer portal and look for a school that will give him what he wants. The Vols, on the other hand, seem perfectly comfortable moving on with no regrets.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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