The football team of the University of Tennessee and the start of QB Nico Iamaleava have a bit of an impasse.
After rumors about a gap between the starter of the volunteers and the team started a few mouths of August, the first public shot was fired, with Ieamaleva held himself from Tennessee’s spring exercise on Friday un -enil per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Sources: Tennessee QB Nico áamaleava did not go to Tennessee Spring Practice today. He has been in conversations with Tennessee about a new contract. The no-show of exercise came as a surprise. pic.twitter.com/VXSXTPDZPU
– Pete Thamel (@Petethamel) April 11, 2025
As Thamel stated, this holdout was unexpectedly through the Vols and is the first prominent example of a player who was at university level.
So, how did we get here and where will this be?
How did we get to this point?
Iamaleoa had been talking to Tennessee since mid -December about a redesigned zero. The current deal of the QB was around $ 2.4 million, sources told ESPN. After the end of the season, Iamaleava and Tennessee went to the negotiating table for a re -processed contract. On3 it was reported that the representatives of Áamaleava were looking for an increase in the range of $ 4 million for his deal, but the vols did not come to their attitude. According to ON3, the two parties met on Thursday with regard to a reworked deal, but nothing else came out. The Holdout of Iamaleva on Friday came as a “surprise” for the team. This is from ESPN’s Chris Low:
The representatives of Iamaleva were adamant for news broadcasts on Thursday that there was no zero off. But sources say that there has been a growing frustration in the administration and players about the situation, especially when Iamaleava did not show for practice.
– Chris Low (@Clesespn) April 11, 2025
When Iametaava first committed itself to Tennessee, his deal was un Predentd at the time for a high school recruit and paid him more than $ 8 million over the wingspan of his career. That math amounts to the $ 2.4 million that we discuss earlier, and Iamaleoa Waks to add more.
Which Oher QBs have been out of season this season?
When Carson Beck switched to Miami and Drian Mensah switched to Duke, BHS earned “considerably more” money than Iamaleoa set up to make this upcoming season, according to ESPN. There have been no reports that Iamaleava wants a deal around those figures, but a $ 4 million tag about good.
What are the important dates they need to know in this case?
The spring match of Tennessee is on Saturday, but the larger date will be next Wednesday, April 16. That is when the transfer portal opens for the football window. Hypothetically, if Ieamaleoava does not get the deal he is looking for, I can do the portal and I test the waters there. Tennessee can also feel the pressure here, because they would end up in a scrolmble for a starting QB that can be at least SEC competitive.
How good is Nico Amaleoava?
Well … it’s complicated.
Iamaleava closed the season with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions, but eight of those touchdowns came in competitions against Chattanooga, knows State and Utep. Iamaleoa looked at SEC competition too much and the Tennessee, who is notorious, Mickey Mouse-Kaliber finally looked even more weakened than before. This culminated in a Dishemartening 42-17 De To Ohio State in the play-off of the University Football where Iamaleoa 14-Fora-31 went, did not throw any touchdowns and was fired four times.
However, he had to come the top of high school from high school, with Sum Scouting sites that compare him with the QB Justin Herbert van Chargers. The potential may be there, but the production and tape have not shown so far.
Whho has the Slue Fere?
To be honest, it is Tennessee. With the performance of Ieamaleova, which means that many fans and media uninspired, the Vols can let the QB walk and enter the portal, take a risk of finding Sumone that can produce better in the attack. If Ieamaleova does not want to leave, he will drop the same zero deal and it will wear the end of the 2025 season, or he is sun.
However, the thing that works in favor of Iamaleva is time. With the opening of the spring portal, Iamaleava was able to leave and forcing Tennessee to Scrolmble for a QB with four months until the autumn practice starts. That may not be much time for a QB to eat and to learn the ins and outs of the attack, so if Ieamaleoava resin pushes this, time works with Hy.
Whho Coul removes Iamaleava from the portal if he was written in?
Iamaleoa comes from California, so USC Sems as a leading candidate. They did not portray in a QB and last year’s starter, Miller Moss, is now in Louisville. They may have a subda belief in QB Jayden Maiava, who switched from Unlv, but Ieamaleoava would give them Subone with much more potential. In California, UCLA Former App -State Qb Joey Aguilar was added to the portal, but could take a step for Iamaleava if they wanted.
What happens afterwards?
Now we have to play the waiting game. The representatives of Tennessee and Iamaleava have less than a week before the transfer portal is opened to find out, or they risk the starting QB to the portal. With the frustration that grows and time rises, it would be surprising to me if they had done a deal.
I don’t think this will lead to more controversial names that are for better deals, but I also think it depends on the outcome of this holdout. It feels like an agent answer, but when more players see that this holdout is going badly for Iamaleava, not much will feel courageous enough to take that risk again. However, if Tennessee folds and the QB gives what he wants, I think more players have the power to ask for more money, where the pressure is applied to the university.
Eithher Way, this Holdout Coul has important implications for the future of University Football.
