As Tennessee wraps its spring practice slate, the Volunteers have decided to move on from star QB Nico Iamaleava amid NIL contract negotiations. The talks escalated to the point that Iamaleava did not attend Tennessee’s practice Friday ahead of its Orange & White spring game on Saturday, according to 247Sports. On Saturday, coach Josh Heupel informed the team they were heading in a different direction.
The whole saga became public on April 10 when reports emerged that the two sides were working on a new deal. The timing, not only in regards to Tennessee’s spring schedule but also with the spring transfer window opening on April 16, is notable.
In the wake of the initial reports, those close to Iamaleava maintained that he was satisfied with his position in Knoxville. That, obviously, turned out to not be the case.
“The family are happy (with Tennessee),” Cordell Landers, a close friend of the Iamaleavas, told CBS Sports. “There are no (contract negotiations), they’re happy with the contract they have.”
Iamaleava was the gem of Tennessee’s 2023 recruiting class, where he ranked as the No. 2 prospect nationally. Iamaleava landed a reported $8 million NIL deal while the Vols were recruiting him, a landmark figure in the high school recruiting sphere.
With the saga unfolding quickly, keep track of Iamaleava’s future with updates below.
CBS Sports will be here to update this story with the latest developments from the Tennessee, Nico Iamaleava situation as they become available.
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