NCAA Power 4 GM's throw shade at Nico and his demands according to NYT's article

[JohnnyJava]

He may just be dumb enough to believe that.

Honestly here’s the thing, the kid has raw talent. He just wasn’t far enough along yet mentally. His parent and probably Nico himself believes he should be further along bc he’s the #1 qb coming out of high school (I know him and Arch were on different services). Maybe they think Heupel is to blame for just not developing him quickly enough. Maybe they thought he would land in a better situation. Also possible Heupel told them to cut some of their BS and this was the response.

Basically I agree he’s not real intelligent but it’s not him making the decisions here.

I was really thinking about it from a school's perspective. Will they be willing to drop big money on a guy who would struggle to do well with a brand new offense with just four months to learn it? I'd think talking to him would lower their confidence level in him being able to do that.

 

[DaddyChad]

I was really thinking about it from a school's perspective. Will they be willing to drop big money on a guy who would struggle to do well with a brand new offense with just four months to learn it? I'd think talking to him would lower their confidence level in him being able to do that.

A lot of teams. One of them will pay him to come there. Might not be as much as he’s hoping for but someone will overpay. Won’t be Tennessee at least. 2 million was too much for him.

 

[VOLLeeann]

My impression of Nico is that he isn't the smartest QB, certainly not a Dobbs, Manning, or Hooker type.

Reports are that his IQ is 85 = dummy

Can he really go to a new school and excel in a new offense in four months?

Yes. Memphis State prides themselves on unimaginative, boring as f++k offenses that go nowhere and prove nothing relevant to the collegiate football arena. Let him go there and rot.

 

[stolitonic]

Yep. Probably also saying he wanted 100 concubines of his choosing, too.

I mean, don't we all?

 

[SpookyAction]

Yep. Probably also saying he wanted 100 concubines of his choosing, too.

Sounds like a lot of scheming, poisonings, knives set to shank, and a lot of eunuchs stirring things up.
About right.

 

[miket4god]

Why don't QBs like Lagway not have to have multiple seasons to develop? Bryce Young. There are tons of college QBs that didn't have to 'develop' over a year or two, but because he came to Tennessee it takes time for some unexplained reason. I thought this kid was the next PM. But Spyre spent $8M for an unknown commodity that DIDN'T pan out even after a full year of watching/learning/practicing... AND a bowl game. Are we as fans this gullible? Really?

You are right though. The NFL will pay him a ton to hold a clipboard because he has "potential". idiots.

Not sure where this narrative came from that Lagway is so much more developed than Nico, but that narrative is trash.

 

[Chad F]

It’s hard to begrudge these players for looking out for themselves, but there is a right way - a professional way - to do that. The right way DOESN’T consist if holding your team hostage and creating a public mess/ultimatum. Handle all that stuff in private and don’t wait until the eve of the Spring Game to start airing dirty laundry in public.

Plus, Nico took reps over the past few weeks that, in hindsight, would have been better spent on Merk and Mac.

Hate that it didn’t work out but knowing what we know now, I’m glad Nico’s gone. It probably means a bit of a step back this year. In the long run, this is best for the program. I won’t waste my time rooting against this young man, but I also won’t be wishing Nico a lot of success wherever he lands.

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

Has this article been posted?

Unannounced to both Nic and Nico, their agent went behind their back to work negotiations once again. When he overplayed his hand, things got messy quickly. He attempted to save some face with the family by blaming the Tennessee side.


0:17
/
0:30
One KEY Part Of The Vols Offense Is SHINING In Spring Practice...

Yes, there was a lot more to the story. This situation didn’t just start overnight, and resolve in a couple of days. The situation was brewing for a long time, and the public just had the chance to see the results of misstep after misstep from the Iamaleava camp down the stretch.

A to Z Sports has been in contact with many sources over the last few days to put the pieces together, including in the Tennessee program, and close to the Iamaleava family.

The Winter Portal
This recent contractual renewal wasn't the first demand coming from the Iamaleava side. During the tail end of the season, there was already some planning ahead that was happening for the support system for the talented signal caller, according to those around his inner circle. Those conversations centered around the offensive line, which was a unit that needed some revamping for the Volunteers.


The demands were spearheaded by Nic Iamaleava, Nico’s father. In their familiar hierarchy, his dad has the majority of say regarding what he believes to be the best for Nico and their entire family, and they are expected to follow his lead. Along with Nico’s agent, the two of them wanted to be guaranteed that his son would be better protected, and wanted to see the actions to follow.


Tennessee did hit the transfer portal for offensive linemen this past winter, which included the additions of Sam Pendleton (Notre Dame) and Wendell Moe Jr. (Arizona). It appears that more support was wanted, and that meant that the Iamaleava side now wanted more benefits to stay. All demands were not met.

That period of time didn’t do anything for the relationship between both sides, but the portal passed, and Iamaleava was still a Volunteer. It did appear from there that the dust did settle, at least from an outsider’s perspective. Winter workouts came and went, and preparing for the 2025 season was the main focus.


A (not so) abrupt ending
On Thursday of this past week, college football fans from all over were shocked when an On3 report from Transfer Portal reporter Pete Nakos came out. The story centered around Tennessee and Iamaleava being involved in contract negotiations. If the situation wasn’t settled, and money increased, then the spring portal would be on the table for their starting quarterback.



Even before spring practice, the wheels had begun turning around this whole situation. In fact, contact with other schools began back around the winter portal window. Most just didn’t know it.


According to multiple sources, the duo of Nic Iamaleava and their agent were already shopping around to generate interest for Nico. Oregon was amongst the schools they contacted, but that was where things started backfiring for the Iamaleava camp.

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning reached out to Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel regarding them reaching out directly. As you can imagine, that wasn’t well received. The fracturing began, and this was the start of even more lies and deceptions to follow.


Some of the other schools that were reached out to in the winter window were Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, and Texas Tech. The Fighting Irish, like Oregon, were not interested. Making the move for both USC and UCLA didn't make much sense at the time. Texas Tech at least listened, but also didn’t make a move.

With Coach Heupel and Tennessee catching wind of the situation, their side was obviously unhappy but intended to let things play out. According to a source on their side, they weren’t going to make an impulsive decision. They would see what the next steps looked like.


The shame of this all is that Nico wasn’t privy to the majority of what was happening behind the scenes. This is just how things are managed in their family dynamic. He is typically used as an important piece in a game of leveraging, deception, and is expected to follow without any pushback.

With the intention to let the process play out, everything remained quiet for the next few months. Spring ball began, and things continued to be calm on the surface level. Unannounced to both Nic and Nico, their agent went behind their back to work negotiations once again. When he overplayed his hand, things got messy quickly. He attempted to save some face with the family by blaming the Tennessee side.


The story eventually made its way to On3, not via the Tennessee coaching staff or program.

When the story from Nakos came out, the Iamaleava family was completely blindsided by it. They all felt deceived, and Nico and other parts of his family were especially affected. With a lack of information about everything that was taking place, Nico was once again relegated to following his dad and his orders to not show up to practice last Friday.

https://atozsports.com/nashville/volunteers/nico-iamaleava-tennessee-volunteers-football-unprecedented-exit-nil-holdout-family-drama-josh-heupel-dan-lanning/

That was frikkin hilarious. "they wanted to guarantee he would be better protected" I don't know whether they are naive or just stupid. The game is football. It is a COLLISION sport. If you want guaranteed protection, I might suggest taking up golf or tennis.

I have news for the prima donna family: ya'll don't dictate personnel for the team on which your golden meal ticket plays. He might get hurt. (Introduce him to Bru McCoy, as they have obviously never met)

 

[SpaceCoastVol]

View attachment 735174
View attachment 735175

Not sure where this narrative came from that Lagway is so much more developed than Nico, but that narrative is trash.

While the stats tell that part of the story, and you are right... how did they perform in the SEC against tougher competition? I'll bet if Nico goes to WKU or Arky St, he'll light up the stat page.

 

[PEPPERJAX]

Call me stupid but I think we are better off. This year May not be great but the team will bond over this and these guys are young. I want to cheer on guys who want to be here.

I had this same conversation with my Dad the other day. There is no question that Nico is a talented player but Heupel has landed some other highly sought after QB prospects that are currently on our roster right now. This could very well be addition by subtraction. Hopefully Merk or Mac are ready to shine.

 

[feathersax]

Call me stupid but I think we are better off. This year May not be great but the team will bond over this and these guys are young. I want to cheer on guys who want to be here.

It's a rarity, but I agree with you.

 

[EZE]

If this is accurate, I feel sad for Nico. It would really suck for him if he was happy in Knoxville and then he gets blindsided by it imploding behind his back.

 

[Volinnooga]

I would think they had something lined up already before the holdout but maybe they overplayed their hand and they’re walking into a similar deal with only slightly more if that. If they don’t have something lined up at all then yeah that’s incredibly dumb. That’s like quitting your job out of spite without any other job lined up. I can’t think of any high profile school NIL collective who would give him 4 million for a single season at this point. Not sure that he was even worth the reported 2 million they were giving him.

Not so sure he quit--I really believe they thought Tennessee would cave and not say anything, and Tennessee called their bluff.

 

[ButchPlz]

Not so sure he quit--I really believe they thought Tennessee would cave and not say anything, and Tennessee called their bluff.

He didn't show up to practice, therefore he quit. The end.

All of this sits firmly on the Nico camp and his family.

 

[miket4god]

While the stats tell that part of the story, and you are right... how did they perform in the SEC against tougher competition? I'll bet if Nico goes to WKU or Arky St, he'll light up the stat page.

DJ Lagway against only SEC - 54% completion percentage for 940 yards with 6 TDs passing and 5 int
Nico Iamaleava against only SEC - 63% completion percentage for 1605 yards with 9 TD's passing and 3 Int

Lagway has potential, just like Nico, but this idea that he performed so much better than Nico is just not acurate.
Not sure where that narrative is coming from, because your not the only one I've seen saying it, but it's just not true, not even close to true.

 

[Vol737]

I’m guessing Nico’s PR team got a great raise last night after they fired the agent. Now they’re gonna try to flip the blame on the agent and try to save face.

I think there's too much info out there on this already for them to save face, at least with all things Tennessee. Media? They might buy some of it. This is a lot of damage already done, though.

 

[Zues1]

Those Facebook rumors will get you every time....

Yeah, probably just another rumor. Like the one about sitting out the playoffs.

 

[VOL931]

I would think they had something lined up already before the holdout but maybe they overplayed their hand and they’re walking into a similar deal with only slightly more if that. If they don’t have something lined up at all then yeah that’s incredibly dumb. That’s like quitting your job out of spite without any other job lined up. I can’t think of any high profile school NIL collective who would give him 4 million for a single season at this point. Not sure that he was even worth the reported 2 million they were giving him.

They in fact did overplay their hand. Nothing lined up. His dad isn't the smartest bulb in the box apparently.

 

[VOL931]

Bugatti Chrion sportscars retail between $3.4-3.9 million dollars.

Does he have one?