Tennessee football is once again under the microscope—and this time, it’s not for an on-field move. Instead, it’s the unexpected absence of quarterback Nico Iamaleava at Friday’s spring practice that’s stirred up a frenzy. Just when fans thought the Vols had their dream QB locked in, things got dicey. Coaches and teammates were caught off guard. So where’s Nico?
Sources say he wasn’t nursing an injury or taking a breather—he was locked in a negotiation. Yeah, that NIL deal—the $8 million mega-package inked with the Vols Club collective, with a whopping $2.2 million due just in 2025. And while Nico’s not talking, the internet is.
First, On3’s Austin Price reported, “Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava was not at practice this morning.” And that alone had fans on edge. But just 23 hours earlier, On3’s Pete Nakos had dropped a separate headline: “Tennessee & Nico Iamaleava are in active contract negotiations ahead of the 2025 season.” Add those up, and now the Vols’ spring camp is suddenly full of questions.
Is this just NIL posturing? Or is Nico really rethinking his future? Because as wild as it sounds—some fans are already speculating Tennessee may be lining up a backup plan. And this is where Iowa’s QB drama enters the picture.
While Tennessee fans were busy refreshing X to track every Nico update, another headline broke the silence—Brendan Sullivan, Iowa’s most experienced returning quarterback, is officially hitting the portal. And the timing? Way too perfect.
BREAKING: Iowa QB Brendan Sullivan has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, @PeteNakos_ reports. https://t.co/U31NaOwnr0 pic.twitter.com/esBMk9pyS2
— On3 (@On3sports) April 11, 2025
Sullivan transferred to Iowa from Northwestern in 2024 and was projected to be the safe bet in the Hawkeyes’ 2025 QB room. And he wasn’t just holding a clipboard. The QB stepped up—completing 38 of 53 passes for 475 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 150 yards and punching in four scores with his legs. For a midseason replacement, those are solid numbers.
He also brought pedigree. Coming out of Davison High in Missouri, Sullivan was a three-star recruit, ranked 49th among QBs nationally by 247Sports. He had promise. Enough that Iowa football GM Tyler Barnes said, “Someone is gonna get a great dude and a hell of a competitor in Sully!” following his portal entry.
But with Iowa snagging South Dakota State’s two-time FCS national champ Mark Gronowski—albeit currently sidelined post-surgery—Sullivan may have seen the writing on the wall. The rest of Iowa’s QB room is stacked too: Hank Brown (ex-Auburn), Jackson Stratton, Jimmy Sullivan, and Ryan Fitzgerald are all fighting for a spot. So maybe Sullivan decided now’s the time to bet on himself and find a team that sees him as QB1 material.
And you better believe fans saw this as a breadcrumb trail leading straight to Knoxville.
Internet oozes chaos, clues, and Tennessee QB theories
As soon as the Nico absence and Sullivan portal news hit the internet, fans lit up with takes—and some of them came in hot. “Tennessee new Quarterback!!!” One fan didn’t waste a second before connecting the dots. With Sullivan in the portal and Nico in NIL limbo, the timing seemed too coincidental to ignore. For Vols fans, it’s hard not to look at Sullivan as a ‘just in case’ insurance policy—especially when there’s uncertainty brewing.
“Go get him Tennessee you’re gonna need him ” This comment came with a smirk, but there’s real tension behind the humor. Tennessee fans know they can’t afford to be caught slipping if Nico’s deal falls apart. Sullivan’s sudden availability could be more than a coincidence—it might be a lifeline.
“Making room for Nico?” In a more meta twist, another fan suggested that perhaps Sullivan’s exit at Iowa was to create an opening for a Nico-like quarterback, flipping the speculation on its head. Whether tongue-in-cheek or not, it shows just how chaotic the QB carousel has become. And then there is this one: “Get ready to speak volunteer buddy.” Direct and hilarious, this comment imagined Sullivan already packing his bags for Knoxville. Fans are clearly running with the idea that Tennessee might be shopping, whether or not Nico stays.
This fan straight-up pitched Sullivan as the fix. “Tennessee I’ve found your solution!!!!!” With his mobility and experience, Sullivan checks enough boxes to serve as either a starter or high-level backup in the SEC. And after Iowa, Knoxville would feel like spring break.
“If you can’t be the QB1 at Iowa it’s time to retire.” Ouch. A brutal but honest take. Iowa’s offense hasn’t exactly lit up the scoreboard lately, so getting pushed out of their depth chart stings. But for Sullivan, this might be a reset button—one that could launch a second act in a better-fit system.
Right now, Tennessee’s spring practice isn’t about playbooks and routes—it’s about negotiations, leverage, and potential fallout. Nico’s stats from last season speak for themselves: 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and just five picks. He’s the real deal. He fits Coach Josh Heupel’s system like a glove. But business is business—and this NIL deal is looking more like a contract dispute in the NFL.
Tennessee fans have every reason to worry. If other quarterbacks like Carson Beck and Darian Mensah are pulling $4 million deals out of the portal, why wouldn’t Nico test the waters? Will Tennessee secure the bag and keep their $8M man happy—or is someone else about to make a splashy offer?
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