UCLA secures commitment from Nico Iamaleava amid turbulent transfer saga involving Tennessee
Rewritten Article:
Nico Iamaleava's time with the University of Tennessee football program has taken an unexpected turn. The QB announced on Instagram that he's swapping Volunteers orange for Bruins blue, committing to UCLA for the upcoming season.
In a heartfelt post, Iamaleava thanked Tennessee fans for their support, expressing gratitude for the relationships built and memories created during his tenure. He claimed to have given his all as a Volunteer.
UCLA, who struggled in their first Big Ten season, welcomed the transfer in search of a new quarterback after the departure of Ethan Garbers and four-star recruit Justyn Martin.
Early this week, Iamaleava entered the NCAA transfer portal, marking a surprise move for the redshirt sophomore who'd led the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff not long ago. Rumors swirled about disputes over his NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal, with Iamaleava missing team meetings and practices, even the annual orange and white game.
Tensions culminated, with head coach Josh Heupel stating, "No one is ever bigger than the program." Later, he expressed gratitude for Iamaleava's time with the team while acknowledging the necessity to move forward without him. Heupel emphasized that the legacy and tradition of Tennessee football remain unshaken.
CNN reached out to Iamaleava via his father, but as of now, there's been no response. In his first full season as a starter, Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions, but the effort wasn't enough to beat the Buckeyes in the first round of the CFP.
Reports indicate that Iamaleava's representatives sought a renegotiation of his NIL deal, asking for $4 million, compared to the $2.2 million he would've made with Tennessee next season[1][2][4]. The University of Tennessee football program declined to comment further when contacted by CNN.
On3 was the first to report the financial dispute between Iamaleava and Tennessee, though his father publicly refuted the claim[1][3]. With Iamaleava's departure, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre are the only listed quarterbacks on the Vols roster. Heupel plans to bring in another quarterback via the transfer portal.
The NCAA's spring transfer portal opened on Wednesday and runs through April 25.
(Enrichment Data added to the base article where it fits naturally):
While the primary reason for Iamaleava's departure was a financial dispute over his NIL compensation, there were also hints of dissatisfaction regarding Tennessee's need to strengthen the offensive line and receiving corps[1][3]. However, the disagreement over restructuring his NIL deal was the official reason cited for the mutual parting of ways between Iamaleava and Tennessee[1][3].
UCLA, being Iamaleava's hometown school near Long Beach, California, emerged as an appealing destination for him[1][3][4]. The specifics of his NIL arrangement with UCLA remain undisclosed, but his commitment is considered a significant boost for the Bruins[1][3][4].
- Unfortunate disputes over Nico Iamaleava's NIL deal led to his transfer from the University of Tennessee football program, with him committing to UCLA instead for the upcoming season.
- Although UCLA welcomed Iamaleava as their new quarterback, his departure from Tennessee came as a surprise, especially considering his role in leading the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff not long ago.
- Dissatisfaction with Tennessee's need to strengthen the offensive line and receiving corps might have been additional factors contributing to Iamaleava's decision to transfer from the NCAA-football program.
- Unlike his previous NIL deal with Tennessee, the specifics of Iamaleava's new agreement with UCLA remain undisclosed, yet his commitment is considered a significant boost for the Bruins' sports and American-football programs.
- The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) may have helped Iamaleava in his quest for better NIL compensation, given that Iamaleava's hometown school near Long Beach, California, emerged as an appealing destination for him.
