Tennessee -Head football coach Josh Heupel spoke for the first time since leaving quarterback Nico Iamaleeava from the volunteer spring list and his message was ready.
Hold first.
Iamaleeava made a certain college sports story as the first player to ever hold out in the Nil era after he did not show up to practice Friday while trying to negotiate a better payment on Tennessee next season.
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Tennessee Volunte’s main coach Josh Heupel looks at a game in the first half at Ohio Stadium 21 December 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (IMagn)
Tennessee removed quarterback from his list ahead of the team’s spring match on Saturday. Iamaleeava has allegedly made his intentions to know that he will enter the transfer portal when it opens Wednesday to play elsewhere.
Heupel talked to Vol Network on Saturday and noted that although this is the current state of college sports, it does not mean the team will finish in second place.
Tennessee moves on from Nico Iamaleeava after QB ran practice in the middle of Nil -The negotiations: Reports
“It’s the state of college football,” Heupel said. “At the end of the day nobody ever is bigger than the program. It also includes me.
“We have an opportunity. We have a lot of guys who will give everything for Tennessee. We move on. Got a fantastic group. Let’s go in competition.”
Tennessee Volunteers Quarterback Nico Iamaleeava goes off the field after a win against Vanderbilt Commodores at Firstbank Stadium 30 November 2024. (Steve Roberts-Preferred Pictures)
Iamaleeava is considered one of the top quarterback views in college football coming into the 2025-26 season. But he wanted to renegotiate his Nile Agreement of $ 10 million with Tennessee, which spans several years, according to ESPN.
ESPN also reports that Tennessee became aware that Oregon reached out to Iamaleeava to potentially transfer to participate in Duck’s main coach Dan Lanning and his program.
Now Heupel will search for a new quarterback in the transfer portal.
“It’s unfortunate, just the situation and where we are with Nico,” Heupel told journalists, according to the New York Post. “I want to thank him for everything he has done since he has come here.”
Tennessee Head coach Josh Heupel on Vol Walk before the Orange and White Spring Games 12 April 2025. (Imag.)
Vols has red shirt -News Jake Merklinger and real beginner George Macintyre on their list, and both played in the spring match on Saturday.
