Tennessee is reportedly “moving on from” Nico Iamaleava after controversy involving the quarterback’s NIL deal, according to reports Saturday from ESPN’s Pete Thamel and The Athletic’s Ralph Russo.

Iamaleava missed practice and team meetings on Friday, a day after it was reported he was unhappy with what he was paid and wanted to renegotiate his NIL deal (though Iamaleava’s father initially disputed those reports). The former 5-star recruit reportedly earned $2.4 million last year, but wanted a raise to more than $4 million.

The NCAA transfer portal opens for 10 days on Wednesday, so it is expected Iamaleava will look to play elsewhere in 2025. A former 5-star recruit out of California, he passed for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns as a first-time starter in 2024, leading Tennessee to a 10-3 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff.

Iamaleava’s expected departure leaves Tennessee with two quarterbacks on its spring roster: redshirt freshman John Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre, both former four-star recruits. Merklinger played in two games as the Volunteers’ third-string quarterback last season, completing six of nine passes for 48 yards.