Nico Iamaleava Commits to Transfer to UCLA After Reported NIL Dispute at Tennessee

Former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has committed to UCLA after leaving the Volunteers as a result of a reported NIL pay dispute.

Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz previously relayed the news.

Last season, Iamaleava completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also rushed for 358 yards and three touchdowns while leading Tennessee to a 10-3 mark and the College Football Playoff's No. 9 seed. Tennessee fell to the eventual national champions Ohio State in the first round.

However, Iamaleava is one-and-done in Knoxville. Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, he was making $2.4 million on an NIL contract, but Iamaleava's representatives were looking for a raise up to $4 million "the day before the winter portal ended in January."

Iamaleava's camp reportedly reached out to Oregon before spring practice began, but the Ducks weren't interested, per Thamel.

And then things heated up in April, as noted by Thamel, who also relayed reporting from ESPN's Chris Low.

"Iamaleava notified offensive coordinator Joey Halzle late Friday night that he was in the process of filling out his paperwork and planned to enter the transfer portal when it opens Wednesday, sources told ESPN's Chris Low.

"Heupel and other staff members had been trying to reach Iamaleava and his representatives to no avail after he missed practice and meetings earlier Friday, sources said."

Iamaleava missed the practice Friday, and the Vols parted ways Saturday, with head coach Josh Heupel telling reporters that "no one is bigger than" the program.

And with that, Iamaleava's time in Knoxville came to an abrupt end.

However, he can welcome a new beginning with UCLA, which now has a proven winner and a quarterback who excelled in year one and has the potential to build off that success going forward.

Adding a productive and established quarterback was a clear need in UCLA, which went just 3-6 in the Big Ten and 5-7 overall in DeShaun Foster's first year as the Bruins' head coach.

Ethan Garbers was UCLA's last quarterback, but he's now gone onto searching for an NFL career.

However, the Bruins did bring in Joey Aguilar from Appalachian State. In two seasons there, Aguilar completed 60.1 percent of his passes for 6,760 yards, 56 touchdowns and 24 interceptions.

Plans have clearly changed now, though, as Iamaleava is in town and ready to assume the QB1 spot in hopes of leading the Bruins to much better Big Ten success.