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Tennessee’s Josh Heupel Addresses Iamaleava’s Absence Amid NIL Negotiations

Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel has publicly addressed the absence of quarterback Nico Iamaleava from the Volunteers’ spring roster, emphasizing the importance of team cohesion.

His message resonated with a clear focus on putting the team above individual interests.

In a significant moment for college athletics, Iamaleava became the first player to hold out during the NIL era as he chose not to attend practice on Friday. This decision stemmed from his efforts to negotiate a more lucrative NIL agreement at Tennessee for the upcoming season.

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Tennessee’s decision to exclude Iamaleava from the spring roster came just before the team’s annual spring game. Reports suggest that he plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens on Wednesday, indicating his intention to seek opportunities with another program.

Heupel spoke with the Vol Network on Saturday, acknowledging the current dynamics of college football while underscoring that no individual player, Iamaleava included, holds a position greater than that of the overall program.

TENNESSEE MOVES ON FROM NICO IAMALEAVA AFTER QB SKIPPED PRACTICE AMID NIL NEGOTIATIONS: REPORTS

“It’s the state of college football,” Heupel remarked. “At the end of the day, no one is ever bigger than the program. That includes me too.” He reiterated the commitment of the remaining players, stating, “We’ve got an opportunity. We’ve got a bunch of guys who are going to give their all for Tennessee. We move forward. Got a great group. Let’s go compete.”

Iamaleava, regarded as one of the top quarterback prospects heading into the 2025-26 season, sought to renegotiate his existing $10 million NIL deal that was set for multiple years, according to reports by ESPN. The situation has drawn attention, particularly as it became known that Oregon had expressed interest in recruiting him, with potential plans to join head coach Dan Lanning’s program.

Looking ahead, Heupel is now tasked with finding a replacement quarterback from the transfer portal. “It’s unfortunate, just the situation and where we’re at with Nico,” Heupel shared with the media, while acknowledging Iamaleava’s contributions during his time at Tennessee.

The Volunteers currently have redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre on their roster, both of whom participated in the spring game.

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