Apr 23, 2025, 08:00 AM ET
FOUR MONTHS BEFORE Nico Iamaleava surprised the school soccer international by way of leaving Tennessee for UCLA, indicators of his discontent have been obvious.
On Dec. 28, hours sooner than the iciness switch portal window closed, Tennessee assets say Iamaleava’s representatives, together with his father, Nic, reached out to the Tennessee NIL collective, Spyre Sports activities Workforce, and have been having a look to extend Iamaleava’s pay for 2025 to round $4 million. Hitting that focus on would put him nearer to the volume sooner or later procured by way of switch quarterbacks Carson Beck (Miami) and Darian Mensah (Duke) all through the iciness portal. Iamaleava was once set to make round $2.4 million at Tennessee this 12 months, assets mentioned.
Resources as regards to the quarterback deny they have been searching for $4 million.
Iamaleava wasn’t returning telephone calls from coaches at this level. Resources as regards to the quarterback mentioned he had to take a “psychological destroy” following the Vols’ 42-17 loss to eventual nationwide champion Ohio State within the first spherical of the School Soccer Playoff, however they said that they did significantly imagine getting into his title within the portal.
Tennessee assets say they imagine the Iamaleavas reached out to a number of colleges, together with Miami, Ole Omit and Oregon, to gauge hobby. Tennessee trainer Josh Heupel was once reputedly in a position to easy issues over and stay Nico on board for 2025, however the quarterback didn’t obtain a brand new deal or extra money.
However whilst the deterioration of the connection between Iamaleava and Tennessee was once months within the making, the whirlwind that adopted his choice to skip apply on April 11 — an afternoon forward of Tennessee’s spring recreation — and input the switch portal was once dizzying.
Coaches and teammates tried to succeed in him that day, a Friday, however have been met with silence.
“Because the day went on, it began to grow to be glaring. He was once long gone and wasn’t coming again,” a Tennessee supply mentioned.
A bit greater than every week later, Iamaleava had signed with UCLA. A supply described Iamaleava’s UCLA settlement as paying him lower than what he was once incomes at Tennessee however greater than the $1.5 million that some have reported. An afternoon after UCLA introduced Iamaleava’s signing, the Bruins’ anticipated beginning quarterback, Joey Aguilar, left and reportedly joined … Tennessee.
It become the crystallization of school soccer in 2025 by which million-dollar quarterbacks can grow to be unfastened brokers each season and Energy 4 starters can necessarily be swapped for each and every different. The ripple results shall be felt a long way into subsequent season, when the fortunes of a Tennessee group with playoff aspirations and a UCLA squad beneath force to show issues round temporarily cling within the steadiness.
How did a once-promising courting between faculty and QB fall aside so rapidly? What does Iamaleava’s huge transfer imply for UCLA? And what comes subsequent for either side after probably the most distinguished school soccer breakup in fresh reminiscence?
UCLA trainer DeShaun Foster and the Bruins have swapped quarterbacks with Tennessee. Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Pictures
THE DAY OF Iamaleava’s no-show at Tennessee, UCLA trainer DeShaun Foster spoke with ESPN concerning the begin to the Bruins’ spring apply consultation. Foster had finished his first complete offseason main this system and had made key adjustments to the training group of workers and to the roster, together with the additions of offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri and Aguilar, a switch from Appalachian State.
Foster was once complimentary of Aguilar all through the interview. UCLA was once ready to “lean on” Aguilar’s revel in, particularly with Sunseri coming in from Indiana and putting in a brand new offense.
“I do not need to say he is only a pocket passer, however he does a excellent task of having the ball out of his hand, expecting some throws,” Foster mentioned. “Being that it is a new machine for him, I similar to the best way he is drawing near each and every apply. You’ll simply inform that he is getting extra vocal, he is getting extra relaxed, and he is been in a position to say his management a bit of bit extra.”
However by way of the top of the day, UCLA’s quarterback scenario gave the impression foggier as a result of what was once taking place greater than 2,000 miles away in Knoxville. As soon as Iamaleava was once formally within the switch portal, the Bruins emerged because the front-runners for the Southern California local nearly by way of default.
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Resources as regards to Iamaleava have been assured he may just safe a deal for greater than $4 million at his subsequent faculty, however he was once running with little leverage. SEC gamers can’t switch to some other SEC program within the spring and instantly play within the fall, so the ones colleges were not concerned. Iamaleava’s absence from the Friday apply additionally created a belief amongst coaches that he had tried a holdout.
Prime-profile gamers and their reps searching for offseason pay raises is not anything new within the technology of NIL and the portal, particularly this 12 months with the approaching arrival of income sharing. However hardly do those discussions devolve right into a public feud.
“It is been occurring in numerous techniques for some time,” a Energy 4 body of workers director mentioned. “You simply do not pay attention about it. It is taking place greater than other folks assume. It is simply public as a result of it is Tennessee and it is Nico.”
Resources at USC, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Texas Tech and several other different Energy 4 techniques informed ESPN they were not getting concerned with Iamaleava. Some had quarterbacks locked in; others have been hesitant to maintain Iamaleava’s representatives. The Bruins, in the meantime, have been debating whether or not to transport ahead however would have an interest if the cost was once proper.
Even though UCLA were happy with Aguilar as a excellent have compatibility for Sunseri’s offense, it additionally considered Iamaleava as a transparent improve. He had began a complete season for an SEC group that went to the CFP. UCLA identified one of the most drama in Iamaleava’s orbit, however the participant himself was once popular with the ones within the Tennessee program till his no-show and was once rather productive at the box whilst staying wholesome. Iamaleava handed for two,616 yards and 19 touchdowns, however in his 8 SEC video games and the playoff recreation towards Ohio State, he handed for greater than 200 yards handiest two times.
“If it wasn’t a neighborhood child, it might’ve been a bit of bit tougher. However having the ability to see him play in highschool and comparing that movie at Tennessee wasn’t onerous to do,” Foster mentioned. “A large number of the children at the group know him and feature performed with him.”
Nico Iamaleava led Tennessee to the School Soccer Playoff ultimate season, however by way of the spring had parted tactics with the college. Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Pictures
IAMALEAVA’S ATTEMPTED NIL renegotiation was once only the start of a tumultuous offseason. It quickly become increasingly more glaring to these at Tennessee that Iamaleava’s camp was once having a look into choices somewhere else.
A couple of assets at Tennessee informed ESPN that Iamaleava ignored two offseason workout routines in February and that his father informed Tennessee coaches that Iamaleava’s legal professional instructed him to skip workout routines till he labored issues out with Spyre. Iamaleava’s camp contends the absence was once over a fee factor with Spyre. A Spyre consultant informed ESPN that there have been no ignored bills. Nic Iamaleava may just no longer be reached for remark. The quarterback returned to workout routines the following week, however his NIL deal remained unchanged.
Sooner than Tennessee’s spring practices started in March, faculty officers have been alerted by way of Oregon’s group of workers that Iamaleava’s camp had contacted the Geese inquiring about their hobby, in step with assets at Oregon and Tennessee. Oregon informed the Iamaleava camp it wasn’t .
Resources as regards to Iamaleava informed ESPN that the circle of relatives’s number one worry within the offseason was once much less about his reimbursement and extra about Tennessee’s efforts to building up a greater supporting solid on offense. The ones as regards to Iamaleava have been concerned with move coverage and his total well being. Iamaleava sat out the second one part of the Mississippi State recreation after a concussion, however he went throughout the concussion protocol and was once cleared the following week by way of clinical body of workers and performed towards Georgia.
The ones in Iamaleava’s camp anticipated Heupel to shore up the offensive line and reload at vast receiver this offseason, with one supply announcing the trainer made “false guarantees” about the ones efforts. When requested to reply, Heupel declined to remark via a college spokesperson, announcing he was once completed speaking about Iamaleava.
The Vols should exchange 4 beginning offensive linemen in 2025 and taken in two transfers who were starters, Arizona’s Wendell Moe Jr. and Notre Dame’s Sam Pendleton, in addition to five-star freshman take on David Sanders, who was once a part of a 2025 recruiting magnificence ranked eleventh nationally by way of ESPN. The receiving corps will characteristic really extensive formative years in 2025 after Dont’e Thornton Jr. and Bru McCoy graduated and Squirrel White transferred to Florida State.
The lone wideout added by way of the portal in January, Alabama’s Amari Jefferson, is a redshirt freshman. Former five-star recruit Mike Matthews shall be a sophomore subsequent season after catching handiest seven passes in restricted alternatives in 2024. Matthews and fellow freshman Boo Carter, who will play receiver and defensive again subsequent season, each thought to be getting into the iciness portal sooner than agreeing to go back to Tennessee.
“You stored listening to rumblings all spring that [Iamaleava] come what may would not be right here within the fall,” one Tennessee supply informed ESPN. “A large number of other folks have been stunned he ignored that apply, nevertheless it wasn’t the primary time he ignored one thing he was once intended to be at, so I have no idea if any one will have to have actually been that stunned.”
In keeping with Tennessee assets, talks persisted into the spring between the collective and Iamaleava’s aspect. There were alternatives in position for Iamaleava to make “neatly into the six figures” in more NIL profits, one supply mentioned, if he agreed to positive appearances and requests, however he declined to take action.
Despite the fact that Iamaleava participated in spring apply, assets informed ESPN {that a} normal uneasiness nonetheless lingered all over this system and athletic division about whether or not the quarterback would stick round for the 2025 season.
“We have been simply hoping shall we make it to December [2025], after which we knew he was once long gone, both to the NFL or shifting in other places,” a supply inside the Tennessee program mentioned.
Josh Heupel addresses journalists after Tennessee’s spring recreation this month: “There is no one that is larger than the Energy T.” Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire
AS TENNESSEE’S SPRING apply reached its ultimate week, assets mentioned Iamaleava informed a minimum of one teammate after the Vols’ Wednesday apply that he deliberate to go into the switch portal at the Sunday after the spring recreation.
“I am getting within the portal, if you wish to have to take care of your corporation,” Iamaleava mentioned as he was once strolling off the apply box, in step with a Tennessee participant who heard him say it.
Probably the most teammates went to Heupel to alert him. Heupel met with Iamaleava to ensure the whole lot was once OK and did not point out the rest concerning the knowledge coming from teammates, and Iamaleava confident his trainer that the whole lot was once excellent and that it was once “all a number of rumors.”
Day after today, a record from On3 emerged that Iamaleava and Tennessee have been in “energetic negotiations” for a brand new deal. Iamaleava’s camp tells a completely other tale. Cordell Landers, an adviser who up to now labored as assistant director of participant body of workers at Florida beneath Dan Mullen, and Iamaleava’s father took to social media to adamantly deny that negotiations have been happening.
Iamaleava does no longer have an agent. His group of advisers contains his father and Landers, who has been shut with Nic since highschool, in addition to sports activities legal professional Michael Huyghue, the previous commissioner of the United Soccer League.
Resources as regards to the quarterback insist they have got had 0 conversions with Heupel or Spyre since January relating to his deal and deny they have been searching for $4 million, even going as far as to indicate Nico was once already making that a lot. “The circle of relatives is proud of Tennessee,” a supply informed ESPN that night time, in accordance with the On3 record. “Nico is excited. We are excellent.” However the record itself sowed way more mistrust and a suspicion that Tennessee coaches or the NIL collective was once chargeable for leaking knowledge.
“It was once a false narrative they usually took that s— and ran with it,” a supply as regards to Iamaleava mentioned. “It become larger than what it was once, when it wasn’t even the case.”
As his telephone blew up Thursday with calls and texts, Iamaleava was once blindsided. He nonetheless attended a dinner along side his fellow Tennessee quarterbacks Thursday night time on the house of Joey Halzle, Tennessee’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks trainer.
However later that night time, assets as regards to Iamaleava say he reached his snapping point. He could not perceive why the stories have been popping out, the place they got here from or whom he may just agree with going ahead, and he felt careworn to decide about his long run. He was once in a position to depart, assets mentioned, however his father inspired him to sleep at the choice.
That subsequent morning, Iamaleava did not display up for Friday’s apply or conferences and did not alert any individual in this system.
Nic Iamaleava recommended his son to move in and meet face-to-face with Heupel and his coaches to paintings issues out, however Iamaleava felt betrayed, assets mentioned, and didn’t talk with Heupel on Friday. A number of other folks inside the Vols’ program attempted to succeed in out to the quarterback to no avail.
“He is harm and he is upset,” a supply as regards to Iamaleava mentioned Friday morning. “They are making him seem like the villain and the scapegoat.”
On Friday night time, Iamaleava known as Halzle to tell him that he was once finishing his bureaucracy and deliberate to go into the switch portal when it opened April 16.
“He was once by no means a troublemaker,” a Tennessee supply mentioned, “labored onerous and did not reason issues within the locker room. He was once quiet and stored to himself so much, form of had that California cool to him, however it is unfair to color him as a nasty child.”
Iamaleava’s locker was once cleared out early Saturday morning sooner than Heupel informed the group its beginning quarterback would now not be a part of the group.
“I need to thank him for the whole lot he is completed since he is gotten right here, as a recruit and who he was once as a participant and the way he competed within the construction,” Heupel mentioned after the spring recreation. “Clearly, we are shifting ahead as a program with out him. I mentioned it to the blokes as of late. There is no one that is larger than the Energy T. That incorporates me.”
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UCLA’s Foster talks about touchdown ‘No. 1 participant in portal’ Iamaleava
UCLA head trainer DeShaun Foster opens up about how the Bruins have been in a position to land Nico Iamaleava within the switch portal.
REGARDLESS OF THE drama, UCLA’s talent to land Iamaleava after his wonder departure from Tennessee is regarded as a significant transfer. And now his brother Madden — the country’s No. 145 recruit ultimate 12 months — could also be shifting to UCLA in a bundle deal that elevates expectancies for this system.
“When’s the ultimate time we had this many of us right here speaking to us?” Foster requested Tuesday. “You guys know what I am announcing, so it is a excellent buzz for us.”
Arkansas’s NIL collective, Arkansas Edge, is predicted to try to recoup one of the most cash it paid to Madden Iamaleava, a supply informed ESPN, after he had signed a one-year settlement however departed inside two months of becoming a member of this system. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek introduced Tuesday that he’s going to strengthen the ones efforts as a result of “enforcement of those agreements is important in our new international of school athletics.”
As soon as it become transparent Nico Iamaleava may well be on his option to Westwood, representatives for Aguilar started comparing their choices. Aguilar persisted to take part in apply with the Bruins ultimate Friday in spite of stories {that a} dedication from Iamaleava seemed impending. UCLA coaches notified the quarterbacks in their choice Sunday. Not up to 24 hours later, Aguilar was once again within the switch portal.
Tennessee inquired with the brokers of a number of Large 12, Large Ten and ACC beginning quarterbacks concerning the chance they might grow to be to be had within the switch portal, assets mentioned, a tactic that has grow to be common around the game as gamers increasingly more search illustration. However it isn’t simple to pry one away within the spring with maximum returning starters already locked into seven-figure offers with their present groups. Illinois’ Luke Altmyer, TCU’s Josh Hoover and Kansas State’s Avery Johnson have been all rumored to be pursuits of Tennessee however could not be flipped, in step with assets.
“We were given a damned wall constructed round him,” a Kansas State supply informed ESPN, relating to Johnson. “They higher carry the Tennessee Nationwide Guard.”
Finally, Tennessee’s most suitable choice ended up being the quarterback who needed to go away UCLA.
And now the Iamaleava-Aguilar switch shall be intently watched from coast to coast this season.
“You wish to have to be in conversations,” Foster mentioned Tuesday, “you need to play big-time ball, you need to have haters, you need all these things as a result of that suggests that you are trending in the proper route, so if you wish to play big-time ball, you’ll do this at UCLA.”
ESPN school soccer creator Paolo Uggetti contributed to this record.
