Paul Finebaum Delivers Harsh Verdict on Overhyped College Football QB originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The 2025 college football offseason has been filled with many storylines, including former five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s transfer from the Tennessee Volunteers after he helped lead them to the College Football Playoff last season.
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The news surprised many, as Iamaleava was seen as the future quarterback for Tennessee. Ultimately, the California native chose to return home and become the quarterback for the UCLA Bruins. He is expected to be replaced by Appalachian State transfer Joey Aguilar, who was initially committed to UCLA.
On “The Paul Finebaum Show,” the SEC Network analyst stated that too much emphasis is being placed on Iamaleava’s departure.
Former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava.© Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“I didn’t think Nico was ever what everyone made him out to be,” Finebaum said. “He was good, not great. Serviceable.”
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Paul Finebaum Warned College Football Teams of Nico Iamaleava
Finebaum has criticized Iamaleava this offseason. When Iamaleava entered the transfer portal before committing to UCLA, Finebaum cautioned teams to avoid the talented player due to his supporting cast.
“I would stay away from him,” Finebaum previously said. “Buyer, beware of this guy. It’s not even Nico; it’s the whole apparatus. Nico is not personally in the middle of these negotiations. Team Nico is. There is a toxic feeling about this player because of the attention and because he is the one everyone is talking about. I would be very careful.”
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Iamaleava’s recruitment drew national attention due to his potential in name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. Notably, The Athletic reported that he signed an NIL agreement with Spyre Sports Group that could be worth up to $8 million over three years, marking a significant milestone in the NIL era. Additionally, Iamaleava partnered with Beats by Dre ahead of the 2024 season and secured a campaign with The Dairy Alliance, further expanding his portfolio of NIL deals. Over the years, his NIL valuation increased from $1.2 million to $2.1 million.
On3’s Pete Nakos initially reported that Iamaleava and Tennessee were engaged in NIL negotiations during the offseason, which ultimately led to Iamaleava’s transfer. However, Iamaleava’s father denied those rumors. The next day, Iamaleava did not attend practice, increasing speculation about a potential departure. It was then announced before the spring game that he was no longer with the program.
Paul Finebaum Expects Joey Aguilar To Have a Better Season than Nico Iamaleava Did
Finebaum believes that Aguilar, Iamaleava’s replacement, will perform better than Iamaleava did in 2024.
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“I don’t think it would be hard to have a better season than Nico,” Finebaum previously said. “Frankly, I’ll take the over on Joey having a better season than Nico (last season).”
Iamaleava played a crucial role in leading the Volunteers to their first appearance in the College Football Playoff, demonstrating his elite potential. As a former five-star recruit and the top player in the 2023 class, he had an impressive first season as the starter, throwing for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, and just five interceptions.
During his two seasons at Appalachian State, Aguilar threw for 6,760 yards, completed 56 touchdowns, and threw 24 interceptions, while maintaining a completion percentage of 60.1%. He also rushed for 452 yards and scored five touchdowns.
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Aguilar now has the chance to prove Finebaum correct by having a better season than Iamaleava. The Volunteers will begin their season on August 30 against the Syracuse Orange at noon ET.
Related: Paul Finebaum Names SEC Team Being Overlooked for All the Wrong Reasons
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
