Tennessee football starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava was a no-show at the Volunteers' final practice on Friday morning ahead of their spring game this weekend, per Adam Sparks of Knox News, part of the USA TODAY Network.
Sparks reported on Friday that Iamaleava's absence, which comes after reported NIL contract negotiations with the Volunteers, "was a surprise to coaches and players."
Iamaleava's absence comes after a Thursday report he wants to renegotiate his NIL contract with Tennessee, per On3's Pete Nakos. According to Nakos, Iamaleava — who went 10-3 in his first season as the Vols' starting quarterback last year — is searching for a new multimillion-dollar NIL deal. The spring window of the NCAA's transfer portal opens on April 16.
Sparks noted that Iamaleava's current NIL deal with Tennessee is reportedly more than $2 million per year, and was signed ahead of him signing his NLI with the Volunteers in 2022.
Neither Spyre Sports Group, the NIL collective that pays Iamaleava, nor Iamaleava's father, Nic Iamaleava, have responded to multiple requests for comment from Knox News and Sparks. According to ESPN's Chris Low, Iamaleava’s representatives denied Nakos' report on Thursday.
However, the Tennessee quarterback's father, Nic Iamaleava, did go on X (formerly Twitter) last Thursday night to say that he "had no idea" of Nakos' report that his son was looking for a new NIL deal at Tennessee.
"More games being played off the field than on the field. Bi7ch Nakos from @On3sports called and asked me directly, I told him I had no idea on what he's talking about. He said his 'close source' that he trusts with his life from the University of Tennessee staff gave him this information," Nic Iamaleava said in the post.
He added: "So y'all can ask them what's going on, cuz (sic) it ain't from us!"
Iamaleava is coming off a season in which he threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns while leading Tennessee to the program's first ...
