The rumor mill will continue to buzz about former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava until he officially finds a new home. One school that continues to surface in connection to the former five-star prospect is North Carolina.
When reports first surfaced that Iamaleava and Tennessee were potentially parting ways, the Tar Heels were among the first programs mentioned as a landing spot — and for good reason. Bill Belichick, in his first year at the helm in Chapel Hill, is still searching for a definitive starting quarterback.
Belichick, who notably removed names and numbers from players' jerseys this spring, hasn’t made any depth chart declarations, especially at the quarterback position. Only freshman Bryce Baker and Purdue transfer Ryan Browne took part in UNC’s recent spring game, with Browne labeled the starter by The Fayetteville Observer’s Rodd Baxley.
“Browne went first in most drills as UNC’s leader at quarterback, including the offense vs. defense portions of practice,” Baxley reported.
Still, North Carolina is actively shopping the quarterback market during the spring transfer window, according to On3’s Pete Nakos. The sticking point? The price tag.
“North Carolina is a known buyer in the quarterback market this spring, ahead of Bill Belichick’s inaugural season,” Nakos wrote. “It remains to be seen if the Tar Heels and Iamaleava are the right fit. The quarterback’s asking price of $4 million could be too much for North Carolina.”
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That $4 million figure was at the center of Iamaleava’s split with Tennessee. His initial deal reportedly ranged between $2.2 and $2.5 million. Now, his market may be shrinking, especially considering he’s coming off a year in which he posted modest numbers: 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, five interceptions, and 358 rushing yards with three scores.
For Belichick and UNC, that cooling market could be a blessing — especially if it gives them the opportunity to land a high-upside quarterback at a more manageable cost.