In a surprising turn of events, quarterback Nico Iamaleava has announced his decision to join UCLA, just days after his departure from Tennessee, where he played a pivotal role in the Volunteers’ journey to the College Football Playoff last season.
Iamaleava made this announcement via an Instagram post showcasing himself in UCLA gear, stating, “My journey at UT has come to an end. This decision was incredibly difficult, and truthfully, not something I expected to make this soon. But I trust God’s timing, and I believe He’s leading me where I need to be. Even though this chapter is ending, a new chapter has begun and I am committed to UCLA!”
The news follows Tennessee coach Josh Heupel’s comments during the Volunteers’ spring game on April 12, where he indicated that Iamaleava would no longer be part of the team. According to Heupel, the realization became clear the previous morning when Iamaleava was unexpectedly absent and did not communicate with the coaching staff.
Heupel provided no further details regarding discussions had with Iamaleava or his representatives. Allegedly, there were speculations that Iamaleava was pursuing a substantial increase in his name, image, and likeness (NIL) compensation after Tennessee’s successful playoff campaign.
During his only season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback, Iamaleava achieved a 63.8% pass completion rate, accumulating 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions. He also added 358 rushing yards and three touchdowns with 109 carries to his impressive stat line. Despite a strong performance, the Volunteers were defeated 42-17 by the eventual national champion Ohio State in the first round of the playoffs, where Iamaleava completed 14 of 31 passes for 104 yards and ran for an additional 47 yards with two touchdowns.
Iamaleava expressed his gratitude to the Knoxville community in his social media message, stating, “To the amazing people in Knoxville, thank you for embracing and uplifting me throughout my time there. I’ll be forever thankful for the support you showed me every step of the way and I’ll always cherish the relationships I built there and the memories I created with my brothers. I believe with all my heart that I gave my all as a Volunteer. I’m truly grateful for the time I had at UT.”
Iamaleava’s NIL deal at Tennessee had triggered an NCAA investigation and a lawsuit by the attorneys general from Tennessee and Virginia earlier this year. The allegations involved both the university and The Vol Club, a NIL collective operated by Spyre Sports Group, concerning the recruitment and NIL contract negotiations involving Iamaleava, a coveted five-star prospect from California. The NCAA eventually reached a settlement regarding the lawsuit at the end of January, addressing concerns about rule violations prohibiting NIL compensation for recruits.