The college football landscape was significantly shaken by the dismissal of Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava after he missed a day of spring practice in a bid to negotiate more NIL money. Initially set to earn $2.4 million in 2025, Iamaleava was reportedly aiming for a figure closer to $4 million, putting him at risk of losing his initial contract as he navigates the transfer portal.
In light of these developments, a prominent ESPN analyst has advised teams to be cautious about pursuing him. “I would stay away from him,” Finebaum stated, according to Awful Announcing. “Buyer beware of this guy. It’s not even Nico; it’s the whole apparatus. Something tells me Nico personally is not at the center of these negotiations—Team Nico is. There is a toxic perception around this player due to all the attention he’s received. I would be very careful.”
“You all are better evaluators than I am, but he’s a good quarterback. How elite is he? I mean, if you don’t have a quarterback, he’s undoubtedly a better option than someone who struggles to relay signals from the coach on the sideline. However, in the short term—which is the focus here—I don’t believe he will make a significant impact.” Finebaum continued, “Can he help? Sure. We saw that with Tennessee. Just looking at Tennessee’s current schedule, a few games that were considered toss-ups are shifting until they resolve their situation with him. He can influence a football team, but you also have to evaluate the cost associated with it. Wherever he goes, there will always be a stigma surrounding him: ‘He held out. He asked for money. He’s a problem child. Stay away.’”
It’ll be interesting to see where the young gunslinger ends up.
