ESPN’s Paul Finebaum has raised red flags for college football programs pursuing Nico Iamaleava, warning them to tread carefully when it comes to the highly-touted quarterback.
Appearing on McElroy and Cubelic In the Morning, Finebaum expressed concerns about Iamaleava following his NIL debacle at Tennessee.
“I would stay away from him,” Finebaum bluntly said. “Buyer, beware of this guy. It’s not even Nico – it’s the whole apparatus.
“Nico is not personally in the middle of these negotiations. Team Nico is. There is a toxic feeling about this player because of the attention and because he is the one everyone is talking about… I would be very careful.”
Iamaleava, who hails from Long Beach, California, has become a central figure in college football’s evolving NIL landscape.
His recruitment out of high school generated immense national attention, in part due to his lucrative NIL deals. Tennessee went to bat for Iamaleava and initially formed a rock-solid partnership with the prized quarterback.
However, we all know how the story has played out…
Attempting to renegotiate his NIL deal, reportedly seeking double what he originally agreed to, Iamaleava decided to skip practice last Friday.
Following some really terrible advice, Iamaleava proceeded to ignore all attempts from head coach Josh Heupel and the Vols’ staff to reach him.
To the delight of most college football fans (and certainly coaches), Heupel put his foot down and announced that the program was moving on from the Nico era.
“Obviously, we’re moving forward as a program without him. I said it to the guys today. There’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T. That includes me,” Heupel said.
“This program has been around for a long time. There are a lot of great coaches, a lot of great players who came before that laid the cornerstone pieces, the legacy, the tradition that is Tennessee football.
“It’s going to be around a long time after I’m gone and after they’re gone.”
As Iamaleava now enters the transfer portal, speculation about his next destination is heating up.
According to On3, UCLA, his home-state school, is a program to watch, while Texas Tech, despite returning starter Behren Morton, could also show interest.
Texas Tech has been active in the transfer portal, securing the No. 1 class for 2025. More teams are expected to join the race now that Iamaleava is officially in the portal.
Notably, Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels have reportedly decided to take themselves out of the running for Iamaleava.
Needless to say, this whole entire Nico situation is one of the wildest stories in college football history.
What are your thoughts on Finebaum’s warning to programs to “stay away” and “beware” of Iamaleava?
At the end of the day, where do you think he will end up???
