Reported Reason for Nico Iamaleava's Transfer From Tennessee Had Fans Perplexed

Tim Capurso | Apr 16, 2025

Iamaleava looks to pass during a game. / Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Nico Iamaleava is headed to Southern California.

After college football's first public holdout failed to generate a new NIL contract, Iamaleava on Saturday decided to enter the transfer portal, resulting in a frenzy for his services among quarterback-needy teams. On Wednesday, the first day of college football's spring transfer portal window, it was reported that Iamaleava is headed to the UCLA Bruins. The news was first reported by Fox Sports's Colin Cowherd and later confirmed by The Athletic.

But Cowherd, who seems to be informed on this issue, didn't just report the news. He also reported a reason, apparently given by Iamaleava's family, for his decision to transfer from the Volunteers.

I am told — moments ago — Nico Iamaleava is going to UCLA. Family still claims it’s NOT about the 💰It’s about the @Vol_Football offense. I was not told what the Bruins are paying.

— Colin Cowherd (@colincowherd) April 16, 2025

So, Iamaleava's transfer had more to do with an issue concerning the Tennessee offense and not money? Let's just say that fans and pundits had a healthy amount of skepticism for that reasoning.

Let's get this straight.

They knew in December that Heupel was still Tennessee's coach, so the offense wasn't changing.

So they wait until April, and -- if this winds up being true -- put him with an OC whose next playcall will be his first.

Because it's about the offense. https://t.co/AEuzRMqZhb

— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) April 16, 2025

Not about the 💰 pic.twitter.com/dj2C7LxuXu

— Matt Smith (@SamENole) April 16, 2025

pic.twitter.com/06kwoNbv6L

— Geaux Ducks (@GeauxDuck) April 16, 2025

He caused himself a 50% pay cut. Of course it’s not about the money LMAO

— Jack Kanoff, MD (@DrJackKanoff) April 16, 2025

It was definitely about the money and they are lying. They knew the offense. He's been there for a couple years. He knows what it is. There's nothing wrong with it. Nico tried to negotiate for money didn't he wasn't worth and he got burned

— Ryne (@skibolightning) April 16, 2025

“Not about the money”

So basically, this went horribly for Nico’s camp and now they are desperately trying to save face?

Emphasis on the “camp” part since I’m sure all the so-called agents and family members were in Nico’s ear trying to squeeze more money for their sake…

— BuckeyeDore Bracketology (@BuckeyeDore) April 16, 2025

At the time of his initial commitment to the Volunteers, Iamaleava signed a three-year NIL contract worth approximately $8 million. But as other college football QBs began to earn more money, Iamaleava reportedly followed suit and, in back-and-forth talks with Tennessee, reportedly pushed for a contract that would pay him $4 million per year, as opposed to the roughly $2.2 million per season he was making with his old contract.

Tennessee balked and Iamaleava, in what amounted to an NFL-style holdout, skipped Volunteers spring practice, the day before the team's spring game. After it was apparent that the relationship between Iamaleava and Tennessee had soured, the former five-star recruit submitted paperwork to enter the transfer portal.

Several QB-needy teams circled the waters around Iamaleava, but ultimately, it was the Bruins who landed him.

Whatever the reasoning behind Iamaleava's transfer, he and his family are clearly going to have a hard time convincing people that it wasn't money-related.

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