The NIL dispute between Tennessee and quarterback Nico Iamaleava resulted in the two sides parting ways.
The Tennessee Volunteers and the quarterback have dominated the college football news cycle all weekend so far.
After asking for more money in addition to his original $2 million per year NIL contract with Tennessee, the Volunteers decided to let him know that they weren’t paying a dime.
That has led Iamaleava to choose to depart from the program, and he is entering the spring transfer portal.
Since the news broke, many analysts, players, and former players have expressed their opinions on the situation.
One of the more intriguing opinions came from former Baylor and NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Griffin believes that if Nico Iamaleava and other players will be held in a bad light for this kind of situation, coaches should be handled the same way when they choose to leave for better opportunities or more money.
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“The Nico Iamaleava situation is an interesting one. Player wants more money and the team doesn’t want to pay, so the player enters the transfer portal,” Griffin III posted on X.
“If you are screaming that the players should honor their contract and commitment to the school, then you better say the same for Coaches who leave for more money and a better opportunity.”
The Nico Lamaleava situation is an interesting one. Player wants more money and the team doesn’t want to pay, so the player enters the transfer portal. If you are screaming that the players should honor their contract and commitment to the school, then you better say the same for…
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) April 12, 2025
No one can argue against what Griffin said, but the reality is that coaches will never be blasted for doing what is best for them.
Where Is Nico Iamaleava Headed To Next?
Plenty of teams have already been connected as potential suitors for Iamaleava.
The spring transfer portal just got a lot more interesting after the former Tennessee quarterback added his name to it.
The large majority of teams around the country would view Iamaleava as a big upgrade in the position.
Where will he end up?
We know where he won’t go, as rules state that a player cannot transfer from one SEC school to another during the spring transfer window.
Some teams to watch are the Oregon Ducks, Ohio State Buckeyes, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and North Carolina Tar Heels.
