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Former Tennessee Volunteers starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava has officially entered the college football transfer portal with a do not contract tag, ESPN's Max Olson reported on Wednesday (April 16).
"Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava has officially entered the transfer portal with a do not contact tag, ESPN has learned," Olson wrote on his X account.
Iamaleava, 20, a former five-star prospect who started the entire 2024 season, missed team meetings and practice on Friday (April 11) amid an apparent holdout before head coach Josh Heupel confirmed reports of the team's intention to move on after its Orange and White Spring Game on Saturday (April 12).
"There's nobody bigger than the 'Power T,'" Heupel said via ESPN.
Iamaleava and Tennessee were reported to be in a standoff over his name, image and likeness contract this week amid the quarterback's absence from practice, which led to the Vols deciding to cut ties with the California native. The quarterback agreed to a four-year deal worth approximately $8 million with the University of Tennessee's NIL collective, Spyre Sports Group, upon his commitment in the spring of 2022.
Iamaleava just completed his redshirt freshman season, which gives him three seasons of eligibility with his next college team once he enters the transfer portal, which is set to reopen on Wednesday (April 16). Tennessee went 10-3 and made its first College Football Playoff berth under the new format during Iamaleava's first year as a starter, which saw him throw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions.