ATLANTA – Tennessee football players said they will not hate watch UCLA games to root against quarterback Nico Iamaleava, their former teammate who left the Vols at the end of spring practice over a dispute about NIL pay.
Some Vols said they will watch Iamaleava’s games. Others just won’t watch at all.
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“I’m not curious (about Iamaleava),” UT tight end Miles Kitselman said on July 15. “We are focused on us. It’s Tennessee vs. Tennessee every single day.”
At 2025 SEC football media days, UT players had varied reactions to questions about Iamaleava.
That’s because some cut off contact with the former Vols quarterback when he left the program in the spring. Others still regularly talk to him.
“I wish him the best. That’s my brother for life,” linebacker Arion Carter said. “… Me and him have great conversations. I’ve talked to him within the last couple of months, just to make sure he’s all right.
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“We don’t ever waver from the standard that ‘no player is bigger than the team.’ But also, you wish a guy like that with so much character the best of luck.”
Some UT fans certainly will tune into UCLA games this season, hoping to see Iamaleava fail. In April, he infuriated them when it came to light that he sought to renegotiate his NIL deal, which reportedly paid him more than $2 million per year.
ESPN’s Chris Low, citing sources, reported that Iamaleava’s representatives wanted his NIL pay increased to $4 million per year, using the possibility of him entering the transfer portal as leverage.
Iamaleava skipped UT’s final practice of spring and the Orange & White spring game. He entered the portal and transferred to UCLA.
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Three months later, some UT players say they don’t hold hard feelings against Iamaleava.
“Nico is a good friend of mine. I wish nothing but the best for Nico,” defensive tackle Bryson Eason said. “His decision was his decision. I’m still rooting for him. I’m hoping everything goes his way. There’s no hate at all toward Nico.”
Nico Iamaleava to speak at 2025 Big Ten media days
Iamaleava will appear at Big Ten football media days on July 24. His first game for the Bruins will be against Utah at the Rose Bowl on Aug. 30.
UCLA also plays Penn State (Oct. 4), Indiana (Oct. 25) and Ohio State (Nov. 15), which each made the College Football Playoff last season.
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Iamaleava, a former five-star recruit, played 18 games with 14 starts over two seasons. He earned the Citrus Bowl MVP in his first start to cap the 2023 season. Then he passed for 2,616 yards, 19 TDs and five interceptions in 2024, helping the Vols post a 10-3 record and make the College Football Playoff.
UT enters the 2025 season with a three-player competition to replace Iamaleava.
Joey Aguilar was a standout at Appalachian State who transferred to UCLA in January. But when Iamaleava transferred to UCLA, Aguilar jumped back into the portal and landed with the Vols.
Jake Merklinger, a former four-star recruit, is a redshirt freshman who completed 6 of 9 passes for 48 yards as a No. 3 quarterback last season. George MacIntyre, a four-star recruit, enrolled at UT as a freshman in January.
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Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Nico Iamaleava: Tennessee players say they won’t hate watch UCLA games
