Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is expected to transfer to UCLA, a source briefed on the process said.
Iamaleava officially entered the transfer portal Wednesday with a “do not contact” label. He left Tennessee last week after attempts to rework his contract with a Tennessee name, image and likeness (NIL) collective went public last week.
He initially committed to Tennessee in March 2022, shortly after signing a NIL deal with Spyre Sports, Tennessee’s collective, that paid him more than $8 million over four years. Entering the final year of that contract, Iamaleava’s representatives were seeking a raise to around $4 million ahead of the 2025 season, a person briefed on the matter said.
The Iamaleavas also sought assurances that Tennessee would improve its offensive line and receiving corps this offseason.
Tennessee was unwilling to meet the financial demands dating back to the 30-day winter portal window in December. On Friday, a day before Tennessee’s spring game, Iamaleava was absent from practice.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Saturday he elected to move on without Iamaleava when he hadn’t received any correspondence from Iamaleava or his representatives by the end of practice.
“No one is bigger than the Power T,” Heupel said. “Including me.”
This is a developing story. More to come.
(Photo: Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images)