Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava skips practice during ‘contract negotiations’ in stunning NIL development

Things are looking rocky on ol’ Rocky Top.

Years ago, college football players’ priorities were their performance on the field and in the classroom. Now, NIL contracts are keeping players from practicing.

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was absent from the Volunteers’ practice on Friday — just a day after reports surfaced that he and program were in the midst of NIL contract negotiations ahead of the Spring transfer portal opening up on April 16.

With the next round of transfer portal chaos approaching in just days, Iamaleava’s timing is certainly convenient as he could field major NIL offers across the country that may force the Volunteers’ hand in retaining the quarterback.

Reports surfaced that Iamaleava’s father, Nic, was the driving force behind these negotiations — pushing for his son to get more money than his current $3.1 million NIL valuation. 

His father denied these claims on X, though. 

On3’s Pete Nakos, who originally reported Iamaleava’s negotiations to the public, gave him a phone call, he claimed.

“More games being played off the field than on the field,” Nic Iamaleava said. “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. So y’all can ask them what’s going on, cuz it ain’t from us!”

While it’s unclear whether his father is truly involved, Iamaleava’s absence at Friday’s practice surely suggests that these negotiations are happening in one way or another.

Iamaleava is coming off his sophomore season in which he tossed 19 touchdowns and five interceptions, leading Tennessee to a 10-3 record and a No. 9 finish in the season’s final AP Poll.

Iamaleava’s season wasn’t outstanding by any means — as seen with his pedestrian passing numbers and his below average performance in the Volunteers’ College Football Playoff loss to the eventual national champions Ohio State — but heading into his junior year, many expect a major leap.

If he were to hit the portal next week, the list of potential suitors would surely be lengthy, but not quite to the point it would have in the first transfer portal period, as many teams have their starter ready or are well into their quarterback duels at this point in time.

CBS Sports is reporting that Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel has not addressed the situation with his staff yet.