Josh Heupel Says No One is 'Bigger Than the Program' Amid Iamaleava's Tennessee Exit

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel addressed the departure of quarterback Nico Iamaleava on Saturday.

“Man, listen, it’s the state of college football,” Heupel said on The Vol Network radio broadcast (h/t Grant Ramey of On3.com). “At the end of the day, no one is ever bigger than the program. That includes me, too. We’ve got an opportunity. We’ve got a bunch of guys that will give their all for Tennessee."

“We move forward," he added. "Got a great group. Let’s go compete.”

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that the Volunteers were "moving on" from Iamaleava after he missed meetings and practice on Friday.

He was negotiating a new NIL deal with Tennessee prior to his exit, per Pete Nakos of On3.com.

Iamaleava was seeking an increased deal before the winter portal ended, with Thamel reporting that his representatives asked for his agreement to rise to the $4 million range.

The signal-caller was making $2.4 million on a contract that was reported to be worth $8 million when he first signed it. The overall value of the deal would have been closer to $10 million after he started receiving payments in high school, though (via Thamel).

Iamaleava has submitted paperwork to enter the transfer portal, according to Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

The 20-year-old suited up in 13 games for the Vols in 2024, completing 63.8 percent of his passes for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns compared to five interceptions.

Tennessee finished with a record of 10-3, making a College Football Playoff appearance.

With Iamaleava no longer in the mix, Heupel's squad now has an opening at quarterback. The top internal candidates to replace him under center are Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre.

Merklinger appeared in just two games as a true freshman during his 2024 campaign, completing six of his nine pass attempts for 48 yards.

MacIntyre was listed as the No. 13 quarterback in the 2025 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Thamel also reported that Tennessee has "already begun reaching out to third parties" regarding possible Iamaleava replacements for the 2025 season.

The Vols will now look to figure out their quarterback situation as they attempt to finish with a winning record for the fifth consecutive year under Heupel.