Nico Iamaleava’s camp says QB left Tennessee for 1 reason other than money

Nico Iamaleava has entered the NCAA transfer portal following a reported dispute with Tennessee over his NIL deal, but the quarterback’s camp is claiming the falling out was not about money.

Tennessee decided to part ways with Iamaleava after the redshirt sophomore skipped the team’s spring practice on Friday over a supposed pay dispute. Reports have indicated that Iamaleava is seeking a $4 million NIL deal, which is significantly more than the $2.4 million deal he had remaining with the Volunteers for 2025.

Iamaleava is primarily represented by his father, Nic Iamaleava, and by California-based coach Cordell Landers, who is a well-known figure in NCAA circles. No agent who is certified currently represents the redshirt sophomore.

For a story that was published on Wednesday, Amanda Christovich of Front Office Sports spoke with a close family friend of Nic Iamaleava. The friend, who chose to remain anonymous, claimed reports that Iamaleava pushed for more money are “bulls–t.”

According to the friend of the Iamaleava family, Iamaleava simply asked Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel for assurances that the Volunteers would improve their roster and better protect Nico, who was evaluated for head injuries multiple times last season.

“Big Nic said, ‘We want you guys to reassure us that you’re going to recruit and get the O-line right, that you’re going to go out there and you’re going to get receivers,'” Nic Iamalevea’s friend told Front Office Sports.

Another source with knowledge of the situation told Christovich that Iamaleava’s camp did ask for more money from Spyre Sports, which is Tennessee’s NIL collective. The friend, however, claims Iamaleava had a meeting with Tennessee’s coaching staff last week and was asked whether he intends to transfer. The friend says Iamaleava told Heupel and company that the quarterback would fully commit to the Vols as long as they brought in the types of recruits he had been pushing for.

It was inevitable that there would be two sides to the story. Whatever the case, one report claims Iamaleava could actually have cost himself a significant sum of money by entering the transfer portal.

Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards with 19 touchdown passes and 5 interceptions in his first year as a full-time starter last season. He also rushed for 358 yards and 3 scores while helping the Vols reach the College Football Playoff.