Tennessee & Nico Iamaleava are in active contract negotiations ahead of the 2025 season

[dduncan4163]

I assume he is gone. The fanbase has pretty much turned on him. If we pay him and he struggles even a little bit the boo birds are gonna be Kiffin level come September

 

[Just a VolinTears]

 

[VOLLeeann]

USC

Makes sense.

or perhaps Notre Dame.

Nope they're Catholic. "You shall not covet". lol

 

[dduncan4163]

Lets spin this in a different direction: since Nico is more than likely gone, do we think we roll with Merk or will we try to snipe another QB from somewhere? Who could we possibly drop a bag to get to come here?

We will def bring someone in but you have to figure we will ride or die with Merk this season. Lets hope like hell Brandon is as good as advertised come 2026

 

[dduncan4163]

Makes sense.



Nope they're Catholic. "You shall not covet". lol

lol

 

[treecejc]

This could divide the locker room.

Absolutely. Every player will be wanting a new contract now and when they don’t get it they’ll leave. Simple as that. It’s a lose lose situation for UT unfortunately. No good outcome from this.

 

[DEFENDTHISHOUSE]

 

[plaincityvol]

And we got what we payed for.

 

[sonofUT62]

I said this at the end of last season when it came out that he was actively talking with other schools during the season (including Oregon & Miami), but nobody wanted to hear it. We deserve better.

Maybe Miami. Oregon didn’t pay Moore to talk to Nico.

 

[Just a VolinTears]

And we got what we payed for.

 

[DEFENDTHISHOUSE]

Good point.

 

[Volnbeers]

am i misremembering that it was his family that leaked the original deal information way back when he first signed?

and now im supposed to believe that UT/media is doing the imaleava family dirty this time around?

 

[508mikey]

I think I will check EBay and see if nicos autographed cards are tanking

 

[D3Athlete]

USC or perhaps Notre Dame.

UCLA is the team

 

[508mikey]

Good point.

Danny White should send a message

 

[HooahVol]

 

[FranklinVFL]

Folks here say "he's not lived up to potential" yet he's still a top pick on the 2026 draft boards.

Something is not jiving there. He'd have to suck really bad to fall too far given that he's often the #2 QB on most 2026 NFL draft boards.

He's not taking a huge risk unless he transfers to a non-Power 4 school. Have a mediocre year (like many say last year was) and declare for the draft and be the #2 or #3 QB in the draft.

Time will tell....but 2 mediocre years does not = top 2-3 QBs in a draft class. Especially under 2 different systems.

 

[VOLLeeann]

UCLA is the team

UCLA Bruins Rumored In On Big Play For 5-Star QB Amid NIL Problems - LAFB Network

If the name Iamaleava rings a bell, it is because Madden Iamaleava recently spurned the UCLA Bruins for Arkansas just four months ago. But now, sources

www.lafbnetwork.com

 

[FranklinVFL]

It wouldnt surprise me if he did pop off where ever he goes. He is a generational talent. He is just getting bad Advice.

Generational talent? I mean, that is a big statement for what the statistics has shown so far...

He may turn out to be just that, but he may turn out to be someone who cannot process college level defenses as fast as he needs to and get an accurate throw off.

IMHO, he could go either way. But having to learn a totally different offense during a fall practice schedule only would not speed up his thinking.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Time will tell....but 2 mediocre years does not = top 2-3 QBs in a draft class. Especially under 2 different systems.

Well #1 picks don't pan out and Brady was around #200 and did okay.

Arch hasn't REALLY done anything too remarkable either as a backup QB but I'd put money on him getting an early pick.

What matters is what the NFL thinks. The real goal is there, not college glory.

 

[YankeeVol]

Agreed

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I would love to be a fly on the wall in some of these background conversations and deal making. It reminds me of Shark Tank when your the last investor who wasn’t yet said “I’m out.” All of a sudden, you have a lot more negotiating power.

If Tennessee doesn’t blink and says hit the portal, does USC/UCLA still give him $4 million when the demand is no longer as high as his team says it was? Does Nico do all this simply to end back up closer to where he is now in AAV and put himself basically through all this stress for nothing? That’s not to mention the obscene taxes in California. How much more is $4 million in California worth than $2-$2.5 million in Tennessee?

This whole thing just seems so dumb for Nico.

 

[VOLociraptorr]

UCLA Bruins Rumored In On Big Play For 5-Star QB Amid NIL Problems - LAFB Network

If the name Iamaleava rings a bell, it is because Madden Iamaleava recently spurned the UCLA Bruins for Arkansas just four months ago. But now, sources

www.lafbnetwork.com

Well. He can play Ohio State again

 

[volbound1700]

I would love to be a fly on the wall in some of these background conversations and deal making. It reminds me of Shark Tank when your the last investor who wasn’t yet said “I’m out.” All of a sudden, you have a lot more negotiating power.

If Tennessee doesn’t blink and says hit the portal, does USC/UCLA still give him $4 million when the demand is no longer as high as his team says it was? Does Nico do all this simply to end back up closer to where he is now in AAV and put himself basically through all this stress for nothing? That’s not to mention the obscene taxes in California. How much more is $4 million in California worth than $2-$2.5 million in Tennessee?

This whole thing just seems so dumb for Nico.

Possibly but he is still making Millions so he is a better spot than most of us. He definitely sold everyone a bill of goods about him. This makes me a little hesitant about us grabbing any more of those high 5-star QBs. Some of the best QBs recently have come via transfer such as Diego Pavia, Hendon Hooker, and even Joe Burrow.

 

[Kylo]

It's funny that he thinks he's good enough to hold out.