Nico Iamaleava’s grasp plan to obtain extra NIL cash is blowing up in his face.
The now-former Volunteers quarterback had over $2 million coming his means from Tennessee this season earlier than electing to enter the spring switch portal in hopes of an even bigger deal elsewhere.
Iamaleava’s now taking a look at UCLA as his subsequent vacation spot, however for a lot much less money — and even that’s removed from a finished deal.
Iamaleava’s switch to UCLA has not but been made official after FS1’s Colin Cowherd was the primary to report that the Lengthy Seashore native was heading house to Southern California to develop into a Bruin.
Whereas varied shops regarded to substantiate the information, ESPN’s Chris Low later reported that “UCLA is among the schools interested in Iamaleava” and that the Bruins are “content to ‘sit tight’ while Iamaleava considered his options.”
Effectively, his choices may very well be dwindling.
Of his reported high three faculties from earlier this week, UCLA appears to be the ultimate one exhibiting curiosity after Tulane and North Carolina moved in numerous instructions.
“We’ll see if it gets worked out,” Low’s UCLA supply stated. “He’s extremely talented with starting experience against elite competition. That’s sort of where we are right now.”
Iamaleava had reportedly been trying to rework his NIL cope with Tennessee’s collective previous to the winter switch portal. This culminated in him lacking follow unannounced final week earlier than Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel stated this system can be shifting ahead with out the rising redshirt sophomore quarterback.
Iamaleava’s father, Nic Iamaleava, has been reported as a big issue behind his son’s selections.
If Iamaleava does formally wind up at UCLA, the worth tag may not please the household.
“Iamaleava wanted at least $4 million from Tennessee,” Low reported. “What UCLA was prepared to offer him wasn’t remotely close to that figure.”
With ESPN’s cautious strategy to the experiences and what looks like a disconnect relating to the quarterback’s worth, it appears Cowherd might have jumped the gun along with his breaking information.
And it wouldn’t be the primary time a Iamaleava-to-UCLA dedication fell by way of, as Nico’s youthful brother, Madden, was dedicated to the Bruins in highschool earlier than flipping to Arkansas very late into the recruiting course of.
Till any official experiences are launched, it’s protected to say that Iamaleava’s saga is something however over.
