Tennessee head football coach Josh Heupel worked quickly to push Nico Iamaleava out of Rocky Top after an NIL dispute led to the quarterback ghosting his coach this past Friday. Heupel hasn’t rushed to find Iamaleava’s replacement, however.
South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez is an option, but as Saturday Down South’s Derek Peterson notes, Heupel has many others to consider under center in Knoxville.
“It’s also worth stating the obvious here… Tennessee is going to add a quarterback. How often does a starting job for a CFP-contending school with significant financial resources come open this time of year? Tennessee will be an attractive spot for guys involved in quarterback competitions all over the country. And there are some good ones,” Peterson wrote.
“South Alabama quarterback Gio Lopez, a guy pursued by Georgia and LSU in the winter, hit the transfer portal on Monday. He won’t be the only guy. Tennessee will have some options.”
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that one QB got a raise after Iamaleava’s financial power play.
“Sources added to ESPN that with Iamaleava’s future uncertain, officials from Tennessee’s collective began to make calls Friday to see what the potential market could look like for his replacement. One quarterback got more money from his school Friday after Tennessee’s collective called third-party officials tied to him, a source told ESPN,” Thamel wrote.
That may be working for QBs at other schools, but Heupel isn’t beholden to show the money to Iamaleava’s replacement. The Vols are negotiating from a position of power. To get a coveted starting SEC job, prospective signal-callers at UT may have to settle for less money.
Imagine Iamaleava’s camp reacting to Tennessee paying another QB after refusing to pay Nico? That backlash alone may give Heupel pause about splurging in the transfer portal during the April cycle.