{"id":234333,"date":"2025-07-25T06:35:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-25T06:35:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/234333\/"},"modified":"2025-07-25T06:35:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T06:35:19","slug":"what-nico-iamaleava-said-was-the-main-reason-he-left-tennessee-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/234333\/","title":{"rendered":"What Nico Iamaleava Said was the Main Reason He Left Tennessee Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\"Nico<\/a>Nico Iamaleava (8) dons \u2018Summitt Blue\u2019 accessories for a game against Mississippi State at Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024. Cole Moore\/RTI<\/p>\n

For the first time since Nico Iamaleava departed Tennessee football for UCLA, the quarterback is meeting with the media to field questions.<\/p>\n

As a representative for the Bruins at Big Ten Media Days, Iamaleava was asked what the biggest misconception has been about his situation. He said it was never about the money side of things.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d say that my decision to leave was extremely hard. One of the hardest decisions that I ever had to make,\u201d Iamaleava said. \u201cFamily was the biggest thing to me. A lot of things about financial stuff, it was never that. It was me getting back home closer to my family and playing at the highest level with my family\u2019s support. Our Samoan culture, we\u2019re always together and that was very important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFamily was the biggest thing to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

UCLA QB Nico Iamaleava answers a question from our @Tracy_McDannald<\/a> about the misconception involving his departure from Tennessee this spring. pic.twitter.com\/89SCIeA55W<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 BruinBlitz (On3 | Rivals) (@UCLAOn3) July 24, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

More From RTI:\u00a0ACC School Reportedly is Attempting to Join the SEC in the \u2018Near Future\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Iamaleava departed from Tennessee after two years with the program. He spent 2024 as the team\u2019s starting quarterback in all 13 games while helping the Vols reach the College Football Playoffs. UT ultimately fell on the road to Ohio State to wrap up a 10-3 season.<\/p>\n

The former five-star recruit finished this redshirt-freshman season with 2,616 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also ran for 364 yards and three scores.<\/p>\n

Iamaleava was in line to start for a second-straight year and went through spring camp with UT. However, just before the annual Orange & White Spring Game, reports surfaced that Iamaleava was participating in NIL negotiations. Later, Josh Heupel confirmed that Iamaleava did not report to Friday\u2019s practice ahead of the scrimmage, marking an irreparable rift between the sides.<\/p>\n

Now, Iamaleava heads to UCLA and Tennessee will hold a quarterback battle. It is a three-man race for the Vols\u2019 job between App State and UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and true freshman George MacIntyre.<\/p>\n

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