Tennessee is moving on from quarterback Nico Iamaleava after he missed meetings and practice Friday, head coach Josh Heupel confirmed Saturday.
"It's the state of college football," Heupel said, per ESPN's Pete Thamel. "At the end of the day, no one is ever bigger than the program. That includes me, too."
The Volunteers and Iamaleava had been reportedly negotiating a new NIL deal ahead of the transfer portal opening April 16. There's been little communication between the sides since Iamaleava missed practice, and the signal-caller is expected to enter the portal, Thamel reported.
Iamaleava didn't attend Saturday's spring game.
Iamaleava was reportedly once the highest-paid college quarterback in the country, but several have allegedly eclipsed his pay since then. The 20-year-old's representatives are looking for a deal that will pay him approximately $4 million per season, sources told ESPN's Chris Low.
Redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre are the only other scholarship quarterbacks on Tennessee's roster. Merklinger completed 6 of 9 passes for 48 yards last season. MacIntyre was the class of 2025's No. 1 quarterback recruit from Tennessee and the No. 8 overall pocket passer, according to the ESPN 300.
Iamaleava has appeared in 18 games since joining the Vols as a top-25 prospect. He's thrown for 2,930 yards, 21 touchdowns, and five interceptions, and rushed for 429 yards and six scores.
