Tennessee Parts Ways with Starting Quarterback

So, there’s this kid, Nico Iamaleava. And like, anyone with even a remote interest in Tennessee college football—yeah, that orange swarm of fans—had heard whispers he’d be the savior of the Volunteers. Bold statement? Sure. But hey, he was supposed to be the next big thing, the golden boy with an arm that could, figuratively speaking, launch a football into orbit.

Now, let’s rewind a bit. Nico was this 5-star recruit, which basically means he was kind of a big deal. Ranked just behind Arch Manning—I mean, with a last name like Manning, it figures, right? In 2023, Nico did his quarterback thing: 2,616 yards. My brain doesn’t immediately picture how much that is, but I know it’s a lot—enough to impress everyone. Nineteen touchdowns, a handful of interceptions, a little running game to boot. And, oh, 358 rushing yards. If I tried that, I’d probably trip over my own feet in the first five.

But here’s the plot twist. He got the Volunteers to the new, shiny 12-team College Football Playoff. I mean, isn’t that what dreams are made of in sports? And just when you think there’d be parades and more chants of his name—wham! They’re shifting on without him. Tennessee’s like, “Thanks, but no thanks,” and Nico’s off entering the transfer portal.

How did this happen? Literally, I have no clue… It’s baffling. Maybe it’s like that time I broke up just before graduation, just when things were getting good. Except this isn’t about me—or is it? Anyway, strange times in Volunteer land.