Quarterback Nico Iamaleava shocked the school soccer world this week. Iamaleava held out of spring apply with Tennessee, reportedly in the hunt for a greater NIL cope with the varsity’s collective.
Iamaleava has now parted methods with this system and can enter the switch portal subsequent week, in the hunt for one other program following a failure to achieve a brand new settlement with Tennessee.
Gamers transferring in the hunt for extra NIL alternatives is nothing new, however doing so after holding out provides a brand new wrinkle to the choice.
Tennessee drew a line within the sand with Iamaleava after his choice to carry out, and no less than one different high program’s head coach says it is a non-starter for him as properly.
“We’re not gonna do it at Miami,” mentioned Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal.
Robust phrases from Canes Head Coach Mario Cristobal within the wake of Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava's maintain out-turned departure. "In the event that they wanna play maintain out, they may as properly play get out." pic.twitter.com/pqJZbIVqmk
— Clay Ferraro (@ClayWPLG) April 12, 2025
“And I say that with none hesitation. If anybody’s pondering that, they are often one of the best participant on the planet – in the event that they need to play maintain out, they may as properly play get out. We do not need to do this. We do not need Miami to turn into that. Too many guys have sweat, bled and laid it on the road on that subject to ever turn into that form of program.”
Miami hasn’t been shy about taking in transfers – Cam Ward practically received the Heisman trophy in his lone season as a Hurricane final 12 months – but it surely’s clear that Cristobal is not fascinated about negotiating with gamers.
Jack Gorman/Getty Photos
“Nobody’s ever larger than this system,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel mentioned on Saturday. Tennessee held its annual spring sport on Saturday afternoon, and Heupel knowledgeable the crew of Iamaleava’s departure that morning.
“That features me, too. We have a possibility. We have a bunch of men who’re going to offer their all for Tennessee. We transfer ahead. We have an ideal group. Let’s go compete.”
Tennessee is able to transfer on with out their former five-star quarterback after his calls for had been greater than they had been keen to accomodate. We’ll see if every other high gamers in faculty soccer comply with swimsuit, and if any applications have sufficient curiosity to think about their asking worth.
Associated: Tennessee Followers Take Shot At Nico Iamaleava Throughout Spring Sport
