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Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava did not show up at practice on Friday morning after reports of his NIL negotiations surfaced, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told Knox News.
The source requested anonymity because Friday’s practice was closed to media and public.
Iamaleava’s absence from practice was a surprise to coaches and players, the source added. And it tosses the offseason into turmoil, especially because Iamaleava’s team leadership has been a focus in spring practice.
Now there are questions of whether Iamaleava will attend or participate in Tennessee’s Orange and White Spring Game on Saturday (2 p.m. ET) at Neyland Stadium. If made available to the media, Iamaleava would be asked questions about his NIL situation and the transfer portal, which opens April 16.
If Iamaleava does not play in the spring game, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre will replace him. UT signed them as four-star recruits in the past two signing classes.
Is Nico Iamaleava holding out for more NIL money?
On Thursday, On3.com’s Pete Nakos reported that Iamaleava is negotiating a new multimillion-dollar NIL deal just ahead of the transfer portal opening.
In 2022, Iamaleava signed a blockbuster NIL contract, which reportedly paid him more than $2 million per year and paved the way for the five-star recruit to sign with Tennessee. But the market has risen for the highest paid quarterbacks.
Iamaleava has not commented about the situation, but his absence from practice at least gives the optics of a holdout. ESPN’s Chris Low, citing sources, reported that Iamaleava’s representatives wanted his NIL pay increased to $4 million, using the possibility of him entering the transfer portal as leverage.
That would align with blockbuster NIL contracts involving college quarterbacks this offseason. Miami’s…
Source link : https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2025/04/11/nico-iamaleava-misses-tennessee-football-practice-nil-negotiation/83043639007/
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Publish date : 2025-04-11 15:47:00
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