“Shockwaves in Recruitment: Which School Is Turning Its Back on Nico Iamaleava?”

In the ever-shifting landscape of college football, there’s hardly a dull moment—especially when it comes to a rising star like Nico Iamaleava. Just when we thought we had a sense of where the young quarterback from Tennessee was headed, he throws us a curveball, opting to enter the transfer portal amidst a staggering NIL dispute. Seeking a jaw-dropping $4 million raise, Iamaleava seems to be on the hunt for a lucrative deal that could reshape his future. But with multiple programs dropping out of the race and some experts questioning his market value, one has to wonder: Is this a savvy negotiating tactic or a potential gamble that could backfire spectacularly? The drama unfolds as we dissect the implications of Iamaleava’s bold move and what it might mean for both his career and the teams vying for a top-tier quarterback. If you want to dive into the latest twists and turns of this story, be sure to check it out—it’s a saga you won’t want to miss! LEARN MORE.

Another team has reportedly backed out of the Nico Iamaleava sweepstakes.

The Tennessee quarterback sent shockwaves throughout college football by entering the transfer portal amid an NIL dispute. Iamaleava skipped Friday’s spring practice while reportedly seeking a raise to $4 million.

On3’s Pete Nakos reported Monday that Bill Belichick’s UNC Tar Heels are unlikely to pursue Iamaleava. The insider ruled out another program on Tuesday.

According to Nakos, Tulane will no longer recruit Iamaleava.

Going from Tennessee to Tulane would have signified quite the move for Iamaleava, who led the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff as a redshirt freshman. The American Conference program must replace starting quarterback Darian Mensah, who transferred to Duke after averaging 9.5 yards per pass for the Green Wave last season.

Iamaleava’s price tag could be driving teams out of the market. Nakos said schools would target the transfer if his NIL demands fell to around $1 million, down from the reported $2.2 million he would have made at Tennessee this season.

However, Iamaleava’s camp is reportedly moving the asking price in the opposite direction. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Max Olson, they want “much more” than the $4 million Iamaleava requested from Tennessee.

At least one anonymous general manager from a Power 4 school doesn’t think Iamaleava has any leverage to make lofty NIL demands.

“I think he has zero market,” the general manager told ESPN. “It will be an interesting test of how smart and disciplined colleges are in looking at him.”

ESPN said USC, Notre Dame, and UCF also haven’t expressed “significant interest” in Iamaleava. Another industry source called it “a terrible time” for both the quarterback and Tennessee to navigate the transfer portal.

“You are setting yourself up to fail,” the source told ESPN. “You are so late. You get no spring ball, and all new wide receivers and a new system. The kids being paid a lot of money are already in the system, or they are four months into it.”

Related: Bill Belichick Reportedly Makes Decision On Nico Iamaleava