By JACK BEZANTS

Tennessee is ditching quarterback Nico Iamaleava after he missed spring practice on Friday – a move by the player that prompted a stunned repsonse from Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons.

According to ESPN, Iamaleava’s absence surprised both his teammates and his coaches and comes amid negotiations over an NIL deal. On Saturday morning, it emerged that coach Josh Heupel told the team that they are moving on from Iamaleava.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel said that Iamaleava’s absence on Friday forced the decision and added that he will not be involved in the annual spring game that Tennessee is hosting today.

The safa had prompted a stunned reply from Parsons on X on Friday, who wrote: ‘College football a joke now! Yall minds well just make college into a semi pro league! Actually hold players accountable to the contracts they sign!’

He continued: ‘College was never about money! College is bout building character! I am the man I am today because of the brotherhood and the amazing coaches I’ve had during my time at Penn State! We are failing kids now because life isn’t easy and we are allowing them to quit!’.

OutKick founder Clay Travis also supported the Tennessee decision, posting on X on Saturday: ‘Tennessee made the right move here. Nico wasn’t worth more than he was making based on his on field performance and leadership matters. Good luck to him, but Heupel and the Vols made the right call.

Tennessee is ditching quarterback Nico Iamaleava after he missed spring practice

Tennessee is ditching quarterback Nico Iamaleava after he missed spring practice

‘Nico showed flashes in year two in the program, but he missed a TON of open throws and struggled to see the field well against top teams. 

‘In fairness, Vol receivers had lots of drops too. Ultimately he was nowhere near a $4 million a year QB. Best of luck to him elsewhere.’

The 20-year-old Iamaleava is now expected to enter the spring transfer portal, which opens on Wednesday.

The current situation might qualify as one of college football’s first-ever contract holdouts

ESPN reported that Iamaleava’s existing deal, which is scheduled to pay him more than $8million over his entire college career, is being rejected by Iamaleava and his camp, who desire $4million a season instead.

Iamaleava played sparingly as a freshman in 2023 before taking over the starting role last fall. In his first season as a starter, he completed 63.8 percent of his passes for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns against five interceptions, leading Tennessee to a 10-3 record and a College Football Playoff appearance.

The Vols finished ninth in the final AP poll following their 42-17 first-round loss to eventual champion Ohio State. 

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NFL star slams Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava over NIL feud that will see him leave the school

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