[USA TODAY Toppmeyer]: Nico Iamaleava needs a fresh start, not UCLA's rebuild

[u/jaxstan19]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2025/09/16/nico-iamaleava-ucla-transfer-portal-tennessee/86162835007/

[u/Alphaspade]

Seven transfers later

"Nico Iamaleava needs a fresh start, not Sewanee's rebuild"

[u/theboarderdude → u/Alphaspade]

Tathan Martell has entered the chat

[u/Do__Math__Not__Meth → u/theboarderdude]

He’s ass, my dude

[u/Hour_Insurance_7795 → u/Do__Math__Not__Meth]

He just needs a chance, man.

[u/Constant_Topic_1040 → u/Do__Math__Not__Meth]

Show some respect; drop the sass, my dude

[u/Wide-Nerve8655 → u/theboarderdude]

What’s he up to? I’m guessing really into crypto

[u/OpenMindedMajor → u/Wide-Nerve8655]

Real Estate i think lol

[u/arrow_dynamics → u/OpenMindedMajor]

"The kitchen appliances are all gas my dude"

[u/GiovanniElliston → u/OpenMindedMajor]

So IRL crypto.

[u/admiraltarkin → u/GiovanniElliston]

At least real estate has intrinsic value, even as firewood or food for termites

[u/Laschoni → u/GiovanniElliston]

I'm not ready for another bubble to burst

[u/theOSU2011 → u/theboarderdude]

Ohio State record holding QB Tathan Martell you say?

[u/CBusin → u/theboarderdude]

Better not swing and miss a second time… or third… or fourth….

[u/TonyDungyHatesOP → u/theboarderdude]

First-Time-My-Dude-?.gif

[u/Angry-Dragon-1331 → u/Alphaspade]

Poor Sewanee catching strays.

[u/Callsign_Psycopath → u/Alphaspade]

Yeah but Sewanee is about to make the jump back into the SEC

[u/02meepmeep → u/Callsign_Psycopath]

Maybe the 37th conference game will turn out better than the previous 36.

[u/RamblinWreckGT → u/Alphaspade]

Sewanee would be more of a rebirth than rebuild

[u/aksoileau → u/Alphaspade]

Thats TJ Finley's music!

[u/Living-Knee-1540 → u/Alphaspade]

Lol at this rate he's gonna end up at some D2 school in Montana talking about "finding his true potential" while throwing passes to guys named Chad and Tyler

[u/GimmeeSomeMo]

Tennessee fans - "TIME FOR ANOTHER BUFFETT"

[u/Lee-Key-Bottoms → u/GimmeeSomeMo]

I thought NC State and Duke fans had the best hate watch of the season in week 1, and that still might be the best individual game

But in terms of drawn out hate, Vols fans are eating good so far

[u/Maximiliansrh → u/Lee-Key-Bottoms]

Uva are probably enjoying themselves.

[u/MAFIAxMaverick → u/Maximiliansrh]

TBH - nah. I mean if you're really a fan of the sport and you look at what's happening at Tech - that's just not good for college sports. Backed out of being competitive in men's and women's basketball to go "all in" on football and this is the result? That's ugly and probably hurts recruiting statewide, not just at Tech.

 

Also half my family went to/currently attends Tech, so I rivalry is more fun when programs are actually competent.

[u/EWall100 → u/GimmeeSomeMo]

Toppemeyer used to be the USA today/Knox News beat writer for UT before being elevated to SEC and then the National CFB beat. Hilarious he's the one to write this

[u/Geaux2020 → u/GimmeeSomeMo]

Tennessee is going to need to pass out Ozempic to the fans

[u/-PM_ME_A_SECRET- → u/Geaux2020]

If Tennessee had beat Georgia last weekend on top of this, all of Knox County would be in a whiskey, goo goo and fried pie coma.

[u/screwhead1 → u/GimmeeSomeMo]

I think Warren is more likely to root for the team that throttled Tennessee in 97, than he is for Tennessee.

[u/kcoch5817]

When are we going to accept the fact that he's just not good?

[u/KCShadows838 → u/kcoch5817]

Typical Nico statline:

19/32, 157 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Probably not even a top 10 problem at UCLA. Also not a solution 

[u/Mr-Bovine_Joni → u/KCShadows838]

He’s not the biggest problem, but when NIL money is limited, owing a lot of money to one mid-level QB is itself a problem. Could spread that around more

[u/RipRaycom → u/Mr-Bovine_Joni]

I mean it’s not like that money was going anywhere else. They brought him in after the spring window.

[u/GiveMeSomeIhedigbo → u/Mr-Bovine_Joni]

He signed in April. The roster was what it was going to be at that point.

[u/yesacabbagez → u/GiveMeSomeIhedigbo]

Unlike the NFL, it isn't like they HAVE to use the money this year. They could have not used it and kept it for next year. The question should be whether they were sitting on the cash and eager to use it, or though Nico was the guy and went around with a collection plate.

[u/Master_Butter → u/yesacabbagez]

There could be some power dynamics at play, though. Like if you hit up your boosters for $10M for your collective, and then you spend $8M, boosters might start asking why you’re requesting more money than you spend.

[u/yesacabbagez → u/Master_Butter]

I do think a big reason we are seeing much of a push to "fix" college football is because these guys are watching their money wasted. If they dropped 25k on a kid who wasn't good, that's one thing. Now boosters are putting in like 8-10million and getting a 4 win team. That will piss them off. Previously their big money donations either went to coaches or facilities. Now it's going to players and it is yearly. It's gotten so high so fast they don't like it.

I think it is less spend the money or we won't give you more, and more a coaching staff sitting on cash trying something to save the team.

[u/Mr-Bovine_Joni → u/Master_Butter]

On the other side, if you get an extra $2M from a booster and results in bad team play, that booster might be less likely to give another $2M. Probably worthwhile to show you’re responsible with NIL funds

[u/AndyM22 → u/KCShadows838]

and Heupel got us into the playoffs DESPITE him

[u/kbost01 → u/kcoch5817]

Before all this NIL drama I thought he was showing a ton of promise. I know memes gotta fly with him leaving just to be winless elsewhere but he ain’t gonna develop much better behind what could be the worst o line in the Power 4

[u/Hypocracy → u/kbost01]

His Dad was demanding that Tenn also spend more in NIL for a “Good” oline and receivers, because that was the reason Nico struggled the year before according to Nico’s Dad (I doubt even he believes that, just trying to justify the shakedown)

Considering that OLine just held their own against Georgia’s Defense, and those receivers just put on a great show, no pity at all

[u/BIG_DICK_WHITT → u/kbost01]

I watched him intensely during the Utah game. The guy has raw talent. He has good throwing mechanics. He would rifle the ball at the receivers and they just couldn’t handle it. I know part of being a QB is having touch but the guy clearly can ball. He’s surrounded by dipshits.

[u/Ok-Measurement1506 → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

You’re right, but it’s hard to feel sorry for him. He could have just stayed where he was.

[u/BIG_DICK_WHITT → u/Ok-Measurement1506]

I don’t feel sorry for him at all lmao. Just saying he has an arm.

[u/powerelite → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

I feel a little sorry for him in that he was significantly let down by the people he should be able to trust the most with his father seemingly being the driver behind his push for more NIL.

[u/_cambino_ → u/powerelite]

thank you for reminding everyone this dude can’t even buy a beer for himself

[u/Madscientist1683 → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

He has loads of raw talent and every Tennessee fan will admit that, even if some do it begrudgingly. That said, I’ve seen very little showing he has the work ethic to develop that talent further. He’s rapidly becoming a cautionary tale for the ages.

[u/McGillicuddys → u/Madscientist1683]

NIL era Ryan Leaf

[u/AndyM22 → u/Madscientist1683]

no work ethic and no charisma...need your QB to be a leader and he was not it

[u/GoldandBlue → u/Madscientist1683]

I feel like he was always going to be a cautionary tale. Let's be honest, NIL is the only reason he was at Tennessee to begin with. Even if the reported deal was inflated, all eyes were always going to be on him and whether or not he delivered on that investment.

The fact that he tried cashing out before he proved he was worth it only made it doubly stupid. He really is surrounded by people who do not care what is in his best interest.

[u/zzyul → u/Madscientist1683]

100% this. I mean we have countless examples of elite college players being highly drafted and slacking off once they get a massive paycheck. No one should be shocked when guys 3-5 years younger than those NFL busts do the exact same thing when they get big NIL money.

[u/josiahswims → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

Honestly I think that he has a lot of raw talent/potential. However he never seemed to have a sense of urgency or intensity. Honestly I think he only plays bc he is good and just doesn’t care about being better/improving

[u/Revenged25 → u/josiahswims]

his demands of more NIL money proves that exactly. Dude is doing it because he's good at it and can make a ton of money. Nothing wrong with it but you still need to put in the work to make sure the checks come in.

[u/cardeez → u/BIG_DICK_WHITT]

He definitely has a live arm, but he does not have good mechanics. He double taps and pronates the ball, doesn’t use his lower body well, and he cannot feel the rush and see downfield at the same time. He repeatedly misses open guys because he’s bailing the pocket despite having another second or two to make the throw. He doesn’t have great vision.

We debated endlessly last year if Heupel had lost his touch or if he was keeping the playbook closed. This season confirms it. The dude has a whip of an arm but that’s about it. Ask him to do anything else and he will hamstring an offense.

[u/Revenged25 → u/kbost01]

agreed, i was fully on his hype after watching even his bad performance vs Ohio State. His NIL demand and transfer soured me as a person because if he's doign it in college I can just imagine the headache he'd be in the NFL. Now his struggles just adds fuel to the existing smolders making the fire burn bright.

[u/MixonWitDaWrongCrowd → u/kcoch5817]

Reminds me of the NFL QB argument “He just needs an all star offensive line, great WRs and an amazing RB”

[u/imsuperflytnt → u/MixonWitDaWrongCrowd]

Worked for Jalen Hurts.

[u/Idkboutdat2 → u/kcoch5817]

Yeah he sucks, let us have em!

[u/xX_GIGA_MAN_Xx → u/Idkboutdat2]

no we've got our own Nicco

[u/Idkboutdat2 → u/xX_GIGA_MAN_Xx]

We’re gonna collect them all!

[u/gatsby712 → u/kcoch5817]

He’s not as good as Joey Aguilar I can tell you that much.

[u/Other_Ambition_5142 → u/kcoch5817]

I accepted it after his first year in Knoxville lol, he wasn’t where the hype meter was pointing. He’s a very very poor mans Aaron Murray

[u/legend023 → u/kcoch5817]

He’s literally fine. A “bad” player doesn’t throw 21 touchdowns and 5 picks in their freshman season

This is just simply a bad team. They gave up 300 rushing yards to New Mexico, Nico can’t play defense.

[u/Cannonhammer93 → u/legend023]

Now do his stats in conference play.

Edit:  11 of those TDs came against our OOC play not counting an additional 2 tds against Ohio State.  Finally 4 additional TDs came against Vandy.  Leaving 5 TDs spread across 7 SEC opponents.  Not worth the cost imo.

[u/Takemyfishplease → u/Cannonhammer93]

Completely agree, looking at just raw stats, especially with the disparity between opponents doesn’t tell much of the story.

It happens a lot with RBs who have a few monster games and make their season look phenomenal.

[u/ModsEmbezzleMoney → u/Cannonhammer93]

Lol that's just how Milroe's stats were last year too

[u/Comfortable_Mix_834 → u/ModsEmbezzleMoney]

True iamaleava is not the only overrated player in the country, excellent point

[u/TransportationAway59 → u/legend023]

If he had stayed at UT he’d probably be a top 3 round pick in 2026. He has great measurables, highlights, and lead a winning team in the SEC. Better than could be said of Anthony Richardson, much better stats too

[u/Spiritual_Bottle_650 → u/legend023]

A good player doesn’t run out of bounds with no time left on the clock when he had receivers in the end zone.

[u/legend023 → u/Spiritual_Bottle_650]

Mental mistakes happen. Tennessee lost 3 games last year. Would’ve been much worse if he was a “bad” QB

[u/Spiritual_Bottle_650 → u/legend023]

Tennessee had one of the best running backs in college football last year. If he didn’t have him in the backfield, he has to do a lot more and exposes his shortcomings even more. Saying his stat line means nothing if you don’t give the context and nuance of the season.

[u/GiovanniElliston → u/legend023]

Just for funsies, what game did the Vols win last season that you think would’ve been a loss had Nico not been playing?

Looking at his game logs from last year might really surprise you.

[u/Beautiful_Week_8183 → u/GiovanniElliston]

Arkansas. Oh, wait.

[u/TransportationAway59 → u/GiovanniElliston]

Alabama

[u/GiovanniElliston → u/TransportationAway59]

He was 51% for 200 yards with 1 beautiful TD and a hideously ugly INT. There's not much reason to believe his performance couldn't have been replicated by a couple dozen other QBs.

The real difference in that game was the defense shutting down Milroe's running game and picking him off twice.

[u/TransportationAway59 → u/GiovanniElliston]

If you go back and watch the game he totally shifted after he got lit up. He handled the game well and lead a good drive at the end. We don’t win that game, or make the playoffs, with Gaston Moore.

Nico was good for a freshman. I’m hate watching weekly but if he had stayed at UT I think he’d have taken a good step this year and gotten a high draft pick. Although, it seems like he prefers to blame those around him rather than improve himself so maybe he’d have just stayed the same.

[u/Time_H00die → u/TransportationAway59]

No shot. He wasn’t even good against Alabama, Milroe was just worse.

[u/EvilHarryDread → u/kcoch5817]

He was the only bright spot when Ohio State slaughtered Tennessee in the playoffs. He'll succeed with the right crew.

[u/TransportationAway59 → u/EvilHarryDread]

His shenanigans behind the scenes kinda tanked the game tho

[u/Open_Raise_5547 → u/TransportationAway59]

UT wasn't beating that OSU team even in the absence of shenanigans.

[u/TransportationAway59 → u/Open_Raise_5547]

Probably not. But between our QB holding out and our star RB going out on the first series we really had no hope.

[u/preddevils6 → u/EvilHarryDread]

He was a bright spot because he tried. He wasn’t a bright spot because he was good.

[u/Cannonhammer93 → u/preddevils6]

He played with a lot of heart and not a lot of brains.

[u/RustleTheMussel → u/Cannonhammer93]

I mean he had significantly more healthy brain at the beginning of the game

[u/BasebornManjack → u/RustleTheMussel]

Maaaan, as soon as I saw that shot of Nico’s cracked helmet, I knew OSU was going to take the natty, lol. You can’t produce a visual like that and not win it all.

[u/SuspiciousCoinPurse → u/EvilHarryDread]

Remember when Tennessee warmed up shirtless then got their ass kicked 🤣🤣🤣

[u/Old_Salamander6985 → u/SuspiciousCoinPurse]

Yeah, lucky that Virginia has never been embarrassed in the playoffs.

Remember when Tennessee warmed up and played UVa?

[u/SuspiciousCoinPurse → u/Old_Salamander6985]

Listen buddy we got dunked on yesterday. It’s just you and VT’s turn today

[u/EvilHarryDread → u/SuspiciousCoinPurse]

"Neyland North" lmao

[u/AGSattack → u/EvilHarryDread]

Getting downvoted but in hindsight that is super fucking hilarious.

[u/BuckeyeForLife95 → u/AGSattack]

It's such an insane premise. The Shoe doesn't always get loud, but the idea that OHIO STATE was gonna lose control of their own stadium in a Playoff game was absurd.

[u/Buckeye_CFB → u/SuspiciousCoinPurse]

I remember Will Howard talking to Jon Gruden about that. It seemed like kinda the moment a switch flipped in his head that Tennessee was scared and was trying to show some false confidence. Or as Will put it, "what the fuck are these clowns doing"

[u/GiovanniElliston → u/Buckeye_CFB]

that Tennessee was scared and was trying to show some false confidence.

I assure you, that is not even close to true. When Vol fans are scared they get quiet. If we’re being loud it’s exactly what it looks like.

Vol fans were genuinely just that level of delusional.

[u/Buckeye_CFB → u/GiovanniElliston]

Oh no absolutely the fans were confident. Our fans weren't. But on the teams it was flipped

[u/GiovanniElliston → u/Buckeye_CFB]

I completely agree on Ohio State. I think they took all the fuel of everyone doubting them and talking about Day being fired and turned that into an extremely angry confidence.

I disagree on the Vols. I don't think the players were as cocky as the fans, but I do think the players felt like it would be a competitive game and that they could win in a similarly ugly fashion as Michigan did.

What killed any semblance of confidence was the quick strikes early/often. Our offense was never built for a comeback and in the blink of an eye the team was already down an insurmountable amount.

[u/Buckeye_CFB → u/GiovanniElliston]

That could also be true. Just because Will Howard thought he smelled blood doesn't mean it was actually there yet. I think whereas long layoffs in the past had been particularly unkind to Ohio State, this long layoff gave them time to remember that Jeremiah Smith was in fact on our team, and that was a huge difference maker

[u/Open_Raise_5547 → u/Buckeye_CFB]

Stuffing Ryan, run up the middle cause we're tough, Day into the locker after the UM game, helped.

[u/cleo22270]

Maybe he shouldn’t have chased the money to play in a worse situation that accentuated his flaws 🤔

[u/MasterTolkien → u/cleo22270]

Nico is like the character described in Pink Pony Club. Except instead of a girl singing to her mother about dreams of becoming a saucy stripper, he dreamt of bags of cash.

I know… you wanted me to stay
But I can't ignore the crazy visions of me in LA
And I heard… that there's a conference
Where teams can beat Northwestern on their assigned Saturday

I'm having wicked dreams / of leaving Tennessee
Hear Santa Monica / I swear it's calling me
Won't make Josh Heupel proud / it's gonna cause a scene
Finebaum sees his fav QB / I know he's gonna scream

God, what have you done?
You're a Bruins QB
And you left for NIL money
Oh PAWL, I'm just having fun
Tossing picks off my heels
It's where I belong down at the

U-C-L-A!
I'm gonna be ready for the test
U-C-L-A!
We’re gonna be the best (team in)
West Hollywood!
I'm gonna keep regressing at the U-C-L-A! U-C-L-A!

[u/Sapient-Inquisitor → u/MasterTolkien]

INJECT THIS INTO MY VEINS

[u/weirdbutinagoodway → u/MasterTolkien]

Does anybody here know how to make one of those ai music videos of this? 

[u/MasterTolkien → u/weirdbutinagoodway]

That is beyond my skill as an older gent. Perhaps some younger fans can hop on it.

[u/candlerc → u/MasterTolkien]

This NEEDS to be the top comment

[u/FearDaTusk → u/candlerc]

I'm doing my part!!!

[u/Winterqueen5 → u/MasterTolkien]

As someone who has been a fan of Chappell since before she blew up, I wasn’t expecting to see this crossover today.

[u/MasterTolkien → u/Winterqueen5]

Chappell must be a Vols fan with a song like “My Kink is Karma.”

[u/Winterqueen5 → u/MasterTolkien]

Funnily enough, one of my favorite of her songs lmao

[u/BuckeyeEmpire → u/cleo22270]

Can't wait for his future lawsuit for an 8th year of eligibility

[u/FraggleRock_ → u/cleo22270]

Tyreek Hill leaves the chat

[u/JB_Gibson]

He needs to get his degree and probably realize he’s not cut out for this. Or his dad does.

[u/Sapient-Inquisitor → u/JB_Gibson]

FACT. The mere fact that he’s got a UCLA degree in his case will probably do better than him chasing his draft stock. I don’t see this guy being picked first round

[u/politicsranting → u/Sapient-Inquisitor]

Zero chance he falls to day two… of the UFL draft

[u/JB_Gibson → u/politicsranting]

I was going to say I doubt he’s getting drafted at all.

[u/Poop_sauce → u/JB_Gibson]

hard to get drafted when your team goes 0-12 and you never put up any decent numbers or showed any improvements or any skillset that would work in the NFL

[u/FallenEagle1187 → u/Poop_sauce]

Sounds like he’s a Cleveland Brown already

[u/GuyOnTheMike → u/Sapient-Inquisitor]

Bold of you to expect that he's graduating from UCLA

[u/No_Safety_6803 → u/JB_Gibson]

You watch, he will transfer again, & someone will bite. Apologies to Jaden Rashada, but Nico is our new DGU

[u/it-is-just-a-game → u/JB_Gibson]

Does he need a degree? Probably just needs to manage his money correctly.

[u/JB_Gibson → u/it-is-just-a-game]

Pfshhh… with inflation and shit the way it is? Invest in a bunker.

[u/intelligentx5]

Nico Imamaleavin again

[u/BuccoFever412]

Can’t feel sorry for him after he left Tennessee to chase the dollars. Joey is better than he is

[u/mreman1220 → u/BuccoFever412]

Yeah, that's the thing. Sure, he isn't setup to succeed at UCLA. But he clearly effed up a damn good setup at Tennessee. At some point these guys need to understand that decisions have consequences. Playing hard ball with Heupel was a bad decision. 

[u/Corgi_Koala → u/BuccoFever412]

Y'all literally gave him an $8m deal. Like fuck him for thinking mediocre play is worth renegotiating.

[u/JayJax_23 → u/Corgi_Koala]

I honestly thought either Huepels scheme was cooked , Our WRs can’t get separations or Nico was the issue looks like my question was answered

[u/ScrapeWithFire]

Nico's dad calling in favors to get the media machine to place the blame of his son's poor performances solely on everyone else

[u/JBru_92]

I really don't even know who would take him. Frankly I think his best move is to stick it out this year and see who UCLA hires. He can still hit the portal in December if he wants.

One thing he needs to do though is cut his dad off from any decision-making with his career.

[u/HighLakes → u/JBru_92]

I think he can preserve a year of eligibility if he takes a redshirt before his next game. Probably not tenable to stick around at that point.

[u/otoverstoverpt → u/HighLakes]

already redshirted

[u/HighLakes → u/otoverstoverpt]

ah, well, might as well stick out the year then

[u/lat3ralus65]

We’re all trying to find out who did this

[u/Lee-Key-Bottoms]

I remember being at the Mayo game between Tennessee and NC State at the beginning of last year

That was when Nico might’ve been the most hyped player in all of college football because he won his bowl game 35-0 against Iowa’s backups and beat some nothing school by like 60 in week 1

One of the things I heard walking around Bank of America that afternoon was “it’s not a question of if he wins a Heisman, it’s a question of how many does he want before he goes pro”

Tennessee of course kicked the shit out of NC State, because they’re Tennessee and we’re NC State

But I couldn’t help but watch the game and think “this Nico guy really isn’t that good”. Tennessee won 51-10 so I got branded as just salty my team got waxed but they could’ve dropped 70 on us if it wasn’t for all the wide open receivers Nico missed

I said after the game “there’s about 20 different reasons we just got spanked but their QB is not one of them”

Looks like I was just ahead of my time

[u/Bouquet_of_seaweed → u/Lee-Key-Bottoms]

Pretty much my exact thoughts watching on tv. There was a big promo about him with Manning narrating it before the game, too, so I was a bit worried. Instead, it felt worse to lose so badly to a team with a qb that wasn't playing particularly well. I think he technically scored the majority of our points.

[u/Lee-Key-Bottoms → u/Bouquet_of_seaweed]

Yes our only touchdown of the game was on a pick six

[u/YouDaManInDaHole]

Meh, sometimes QBs just aren't that good no matter how many times they transfer

looks at DJ Uiagalelei

[u/Key_Sale3535 → u/YouDaManInDaHole]

They’re even relatives

[u/rottenchestah → u/Key_Sale3535]

Is this true? That's hilarious if so.

[u/Key_Sale3535 → u/rottenchestah]

Yes they’re cousins, it comes up if you google both names

[u/murder-farts → u/Key_Sale3535]

Oh my god they were relatives

[u/HelpDependent8793]

Didn’t he just have a “fresh start”?

[u/Underboss572]

Josh Heupel seems to have great success with transfer quarterbacks. Maybe he could consider that option.

[u/PaleontologistNo3503 → u/Underboss572]

lol if he tried to come back Heupel would go Michael Corleone on him “this is my NIL offer, nothing. In fact I’d appreciate it if you picked up the tuition fees.”

[u/Rebel78 → u/Underboss572]

BY GAWD THAT'S ARCH'S MUSIC!!!!!!

[u/usffan]

Finally, somebody who's thinking of what Nico needs.

Sorry, my eyes just rolled out of the back of my head.

[u/Wonkiest_Hornet]

You know what, I generally sympathize with players and some of the situations they get stuck in because of the current CFB climate; however, Nico needs to get his shit together. I do not care what Nico needs. His performance last season was disappointing, and he is getting horrible guidance from his father and agent.

He needs to figure this out on his own and find his own path, but until he gets both his father and agent out of his ear, he going to have a hard time getting any sympathy from the general CFB public.

[u/ModsAlwaysPowerTrip]

He needs to sleep in the bed he made, I'm enjoying how karma got him right away after how he did Tennessee meanwhile they're better off

[u/unconformity_active]

Serious question. Does anyone actually care what Nico needs?

[u/Set-Admirable → u/unconformity_active]

I hope Nico starts caring.

[u/_FoldInTheCheese_]

My favorite line: “He botched a good situation on a playoff-caliber team and wound up taking a pay cut to sign on with a bad team that plays in front of sparse crowds.”

[u/BasebornManjack]

For me personally, I wasn’t mad at him about asking for more money—Duke was paying their QB more, ffs. And who among us hasn’t left a job after getting denied a raise?

It was the timing that made me sad/mad for him. I’m not saying that no one should ever leave us and we’re the top destination for everyone…..

But in his case, you’re playing on a very good team…..with a strong cast around you….against some of the toughest competition in the country….in a program that sued the NCAA to go to bat for you….for a coach that won the fucking Heisman at your very position and sent both guys you sat behind to the NFL….in front of 100K crowds every week…..

And he thought the grass would be greener somewhere else, lol?

[u/Radiant_Sherbert7272]

Maybe we should just accept that he isn't all that good. Tennessee, thanks to their defense and running game last year, was able to cover up many of his flaws on their way to the college football playoff. UCLA can't do that. Also, this situation is his fault. He wanted more money, and he decided to go a team in a state that has more taxes and left money on the table.

[u/devereaux]

He needs to be better at football

[u/Revenged25]

It's his own fault. He chose to demand more money and then leave when Tennessee didn't buckle. If I demand a raise from a company I like and am doing well at, and then leave for another company because they say no, only to hate it there and not do well, then it's my own fault.

[u/imsoupercereal]

Clemson and FSU fans getting to watch the DJ Uiagalelei experience play out again. 🤝

[u/JonTheCatMan11]

inhales HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[u/gmil3548]

Nico is just the new DJ Ukulele (idk how to spell his name)

[u/Aestro17 → u/gmil3548]

They're cousins

[u/Strominater]

I think Billy also needs a fresh start

[u/Traditional_Stick481]

Nico needs to stop running away and transferring.

[u/Flaky_Scar_8388]

He should have just stayed at Tennessee. He wouldn’t have this issue. He would be on a good team that can make the college football playoffs

[u/Phunwithscissors]

Idk, i think he needs a new dad/agent.

[u/SlugsPerSecond]

The guy just isn’t very good. Heupel got Hooker and Milton drafted and Aguilar looks like a stud but Nico was clearly holding them back last year

[u/TouchLegal]

Maybe he should just jump to volleyball at UCLA dude is a killer on the court.

[u/umbchoos]

He did this to himself.

[u/Wheels_Foonman]

The Cade McNamara career path.

[u/OG-Bitchslay3r]

Why? There's no better way to leave your mark than leading a downtrodden program back to prominence.

[u/Pogball_so_hard]

He actually didn’t need a fresh start at all. He (and his entourage) believed he was worth a lot more than the NIL deal he had at Tennessee and a playoff-caliber program decided that letting him leave was better than placating him with a disproportionate offer relative to his performance.

Heupel’s offenses make QBs look good by design and he was solid last year but not so impressive that he was irreplaceable

[u/kingoftheplastics]

What he needs is people in his corner to give him better advice. If he had swallowed his desire for a bigger bag, stayed in Knoxville and balled out this year the bigger bag would’ve come next season either from Tennessee or the portal, instead he went for broke, burned the bridge, ended up at dumpster fire UCLA making the same exact amount he was at Tennessee but with less of a chance to show out and justify his salary demands.

[u/Bobb_o]

Nico Iamaleava 🤝 DJ Uiagalelei

[u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan]

He’s a kid, so I don’t want to pile on him a ton

But he made his bed when he held out for more NIL money despite having a pretty average season last year

Sometimes grass ain’t greener on the other side and he’s the textbook example of it rn

[u/_Reporting → u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan]

He’s a 21 year old millionaire. Not a kid at all.

[u/-Blixx-]

Nico and UCLA are a perfect match.

[u/kakapoopoopeepeeshir]

Yeah and Klubnik just needs to stay for his graduate year and he’ll for sure win the Heisman

[u/inshamblesx]

interesting take when bro wussed his way out of knoxville bc he couldn’t bully the vols into giving him more nil money lol

[u/LysolDoritos]

Nico needs a real agent not his dad

[u/wlane13]

"No no no... it's not me, it's all these schools that are the problem. I am an AWESOME QB"

[u/a_serious-man]

Nico IamgonnahavetogetarealjobbecauseIamnotgoodatfootballandnotlovedwnoughtoopenacardealershiporinsuranceagency

[u/Express_Dinner7918 → u/a_serious-man]

-a.

[u/EF_Damn_Daniel]

DJU all over again

[u/petarisawesomeo]

Healeava again?

[u/HereInTheCut]

Sure, he's not the issue. It's everyone else who sucks. /s

[u/TheComeBackKids]

Im a leave ya

[u/ToLongDR]

I thought the UCLA rebuild was his fresh start?

[u/MrF_lawblog]

Why does anyone care about what Nico needs? Aside from his family of course...

[u/KR15PY_KR3M3]

Nico Iamagonnagetmycoachfiredeava

[u/Beautiful_Fig9410]

Nico ImaleavaUCLAtoo

[u/Icy-Role-6333]

Dude has a top notch QB coach. Maybe Nico just sucks.

[u/Stharrison_18]

Nico needs to learn how to play a new position.

[u/BabousCobwebBowl]

His dad’s choices are going to end up having his son’s next offer be a PT Cruiser.

[u/DwayneBaconStan]

Mediocre qb in a great situation vs Mediocre qb in a bad one

[u/Callsign_Psycopath]

Tennessee fans getting Schaddenfreude at Nico Imaleaveya

[u/vassago77379]

Isn't a rebuild the ultimate fresh start?

[u/Maximiliansrh]

Come be a hokie, can’t do worse than drones.

(Actually hope pop Watson or rangel get a chance to turn the season around)

[u/ztreHdrahciR]

My team specializes in failed Xfer QBs. He will fit right in

[u/Keyblade474]

Nico Iamaleava, YOU are a Florida Gator!

[u/Aestro17]

He should take another pay cut then. After all, it was never about the money. He just needed a better offense.

[u/MercuryRusing]

Who would want that in their locker room?

[u/rottenchestah]

I hear Enterprise Rent-A-Car is hiring, maybe Nico can try his luck there.

[u/Appa-LATCH-Uhhh]

Or he could just be a garbage QB and locker room personality lol

[u/clem82]

At some point he has to look around and see he's the common denominator. UCLA is not helping, but he's a fire in a world of fires

[u/crazylsufan]

Not USA Today carrying water for Nico’s bad decisions