Tennessee dismisses its star QB in attempt to exert control over NIL, explained

Tennessee skipped practices and meetings on Friday, then skipped practices and meetings in an attempt to get a new deal before rejecting start quarterback Nicoia Maleava. Tennessee has announced that Iamaleava has left on Saturday morning. This feels like an example of a university program that is trying to control the university's landscape in some way, but sometimes it's more complicated than Imaleava's play was not impressed by SEC opponents.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported the news.

After holding herself down from a spring practice session in Tennessee on Friday, after a rift between volunteer starters and teams began a few months ago, and then thwarted herself from a spring practice session in Tennessee until she got a new name, image and likeness (nil) contract for ESPN's Pete Tamel, the first public shot was fired by Iamaleava.

This is Thamel's original report.

As Thamel stated, this holdout was unexpected by the Vols and is the first notable example of a player who has at the college level.

So how do we get here and where does this go?

How did you get to this point?

Iamaleava has been discussing a renegotiation deal with Tennessee since mid-December. QB's current transaction was around $2.4 million. Sources told ESPN. After the season ended, Iamaleava and Tennessee went to the negotiation table for a reworked contract. it was Reported by ON3 The Iamaleava representatives were looking for an increase to the $4 million range for his deal, but Vols did not upset their stance. According to ON3, both sides met on Thursday regarding the reworked deal, but nothing else. Iamaleava's holdout on Friday came as a “surprise” for the team. This is from Chris Low on ESPN:

When Iamaleava first committed to Tennessee, his deal was unprecedented at the time for high school recruits, paying over $8 million in his career. That mathematics is working on the roughly $2.4 million we discussed previously, and Iamaleava wants to add that more.

What other QBs have made big deals this offseason?

According to ESPN, when Carson Beck moved to Miami and Darian Mensa moved to Duke, both QBs made “significantly more” than Iamaleava made up for the season. There are no reports that Iamaleava wants to do business with these numbers, but the $4 million tag seems correct.

In this case, what are the important dates you should know?

Tennessee's spring game is Saturday, but a big date comes on Wednesday, April 16th. It opens the transfer portal for the Football Spring Window. Hypothetically, if Iamaleava doesn't get the deal he's looking for, he can enter the portal and test the water there. Tennessee may also be under pressure here. Because they fall into the scramble of the first QBs that can at least be competitive in the SEC.

How good is Nico Iamareava?

Well…it's complicated.

Iamaleava finished the season with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions, but eight of those touchdowns took place in games against Chattanooga, Kent State and UTEP. Iamaleava appears to be overmatched against the SEC competition, and the attack on Tennessee, the Mickey Mouse Caliber, is even more debilitating than before. This culminated with a disappointing 42-17 loss Ohio Iamaleava was fired four times in the college football playoffs, where he went 31-14.

However, he is the top recruit coming out of high school, and several scouting sites have compared him. Charger'QB Justin Herbert. The possibility may be there, but so far no production and tape have been shown.

Who has leverage here?

Honestly, it's Tennessee. Iamaleava's performance is not inspired by many fans and media, so the Vols were able to walk QB into the portal, risking finding someone who could find better people in the attack. If Iamaleava doesn't want to leave, he will have to endure trading the same Nil until the end of the 2025 season.

However, it's time that I work in favor of Iamaleava. The opening of the Spring Portal allowed Iamaleava to leave Tennessee in four months before fall practice began, allowing him to force a QB scramble. It may not be enough time for the QB to come in and learn inside and out of the attack, so if Iamaleava wants to push this, time is working with him.

If he went in, who could pull iamaleava out of the portal?

Iamaleava is from California, so USC appears to be a major candidate. They're not a portal to any QB, and last year's starter Miller Moss is currently in Louisville. They may have some faith in QB Jayden Maiava who has transferred from UNLV, but Iamaleava will give to someone with more potential. Staying in California, UCLA added the previous app state QB Joey Aguilar to the portal, but may move to iAmaleava if necessary.

What happens next?

Now we need to play the game that is waiting. Tennessee and IAMALEAVA representatives will understand this within the week that the forwarding portal opens, or risk losing the starting QB to the portal. As frustration increases and time runs out, it would be amazing to me if they could make a deal.

I don't think this will lead to a more notable name for a better deal, but I think it depends on the outcome of this holdout. It feels like a cop's answer, but when more players see this holdout failing in iamaleava, they don't feel bold enough to take that risk away again. But if Tennessee folds and gives QB what he wants, I think it will put pressure on the college and have the power to demand more players more money.

Either way, this holdout could have a major impact on the future of college football.