Tennessee football fans were thrown into a frenzy Thursday after reports surfaced that quarterback Nico Iamaleava was reportedly in active talks with the university over a new contract. The report, published by On3’s Pete Nakos, suggested that the highly-touted QB could even enter the spring transfer portal if negotiations didn’t go as planned. However, the Iamaleava family quickly shot down the claims, with Nico’s father taking to Twitter to vehemently deny the reports.
Late Thursday evening, Iamaleava’s father posted a series of tweets expressing his frustration with the news. He stated that the report was false, explaining that he had communicated directly with Nakos, informing him that there was no truth to the story. “So y’all can ask them what’s going on, ’cause it ain’t from us!” Iamaleava’s father wrote, clearing up the confusion. His strong response aimed to quell rumors that had caused unnecessary stress among Tennessee fans.
The situation quickly escalated as fans of the Vols took to social media, expressing their concerns and frustrations about the speculation regarding Nico’s potential contract. The rumors came on the heels of reports that Iamaleava had previously signed an NIL deal worth around $8 million before even stepping foot on campus in Knoxville. With Tennessee’s spring game approaching this weekend, attention has shifted from the team’s preparations to the controversy surrounding Iamaleava’s NIL deal and potential future at Tennessee.
Iamaleava, a former 5-star recruit, had a solid debut season in 2024, leading the Vols to a 10-win campaign and their first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. While Tennessee’s season ended with a loss to Ohio State in the CFP, expectations remain high for Iamaleava in 2025. As the star QB looks ahead, his father has made it clear that Nico intends to continue playing under the current NIL agreement, not negotiate for a new one.
The drama surrounding Iamaleava’s NIL deal continues to unfold, but with the family’s statement, it appears the rumors have been put to rest—at least for now.
