The college football landscape is currently buzzing with the news of Nico Iamaleava, the former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback, who has decided to enter the transfer portal. The situation raises questions about the involvement of Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning, although his role remains unclear. Iamaleava did not attend a recent team practice and has submitted paperwork to transfer when the portal opens next week.
According to multiple reports, the driving force behind Iamaleava's transfer appears to be a pursuit of higher compensation this offseason. ESPN has cited unnamed sources indicating that Tennessee was aware of Iamaleava's representatives reaching out to Oregon prior to the start of spring practice. However, it seems that Oregon was not interested at that time.
When questioned about whether he had contacted Tennessee coach Josh Heupel or anyone associated with the Volunteers regarding Iamaleava's situation, Lanning chose not to elaborate. "I’m not getting into anything else except — let’s talk about the scrimmage today," he stated after Oregon's first spring scrimmage. "The Ducks worked really hard at their scrimmage today."
As Oregon prepares for the upcoming season, the team is set to return quarterbacks Dante Moore and Austin Novosad. Moore, a highly sought-after recruit, was the No. 3 quarterback in the class of 2023, trailing only Iamaleava and five-star prospect Arch Manning. Last season, Moore served as Oregon’s backup, completing 7 of 8 passes for 49 yards.
In contrast, Iamaleava had a standout season at Tennessee, completing 63.8% of his passes for 2,616 yards, along with 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions. His performance played a crucial role in leading the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff, where they faced a tough loss against the eventual national champion, Ohio State.
Heupel expressed regret about Iamaleava's situation, saying, "It’s unfortunate; the situation and where we’re at with Nico." He went on to thank Iamaleava for his contributions as a recruit and player. "Obviously, we’re moving forward as a program without him. There’s no one that’s bigger than the Power T and that includes me," Heupel added.
As the Oregon Ducks gear up for the 2024 season, the focus will remain on their current roster and upcoming games. For the latest updates, scores, and insights, fans can sign up for The Ducks Beat newsletter, where James Crepea covers everything related to the Ducks and the Big Ten. Additionally, fans can listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter for more in-depth analysis.
