Quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Nico Iamaleava could face major issue after leaving Tennessee

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Apr 13, 2025 9:03 AM ET

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava might be facing an issue as he prepares to enter the transfer portal.

New reports suggest several potential landing spots have already decided not to pursue Iamaleava once he enters the portal. John Brice of Football Scoop reported that Notre Dame and USC do not have any interest in the quarterback, and Brice’s colleague Zach Barnett added that Texas Tech will also stand pat at the position.

On this front, source tells me Texas Tech is not involved with Nico, either.

With returning starter Behren Morton back healthy, Texas Tech is not in the market for a starting quarterback. https://t.co/nJxx3pFtUN
— Zach Barnett (@zach_barnett) April 12, 2025

Iamaleava will need to find a school that has both a need at quarterback and the NIL money necessary to land him. That market might not be huge at this point in spring, though it certainly exists. The fewer schools in the market for Iamaleava, however, the more difficult it will be for him to find a place that can fulfill his demands.

It is not clear who might actually pursue Iamaleava. The UCLA Bruins have been speculated on as a possible landing spot, as it is close to home and Iamaleava’s brother Madden had previously been committed to the school. However, there is nothing solid linking the two sides at this point.

Tennessee essentially called Iamaleava’s bluff and let him walk when he demanded a reworked NIL deal. This is certainly a risk for the player, and there is no guarantee he winds up landing in a better situation than the one he has decided to leave.

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

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