When Nico Iamaleava signed with the Tennessee Vols as a five-star recruit in the 2023 class, the general assumption was that he’d spend three seasons on Rocky Top before entering the NFL.

But that’s not how the story played out for Iamaleava.

The California native spent two seasons at Tennessee before the partnership between him and the Vols fell apart. Iamaleava entered the transfer portal a year ago and quickly landed at UCLA.

While Iamaleava’s time at Tennessee didn’t go as expected, there were certainly some bright moments.

Iamaleava was the starting quarterback that helped the Vols get to the College Football Playoff in 2024. He was also just the second Tennessee quarterback since 2004, when Erik Ainge pulled off the feat, to beat Alabama and Florida in the same season (Hendon Hooker also accomplished that feat in 2022).

But despite those bright moments, there were plenty of Vols fans who threw shade at Iamaleava after he left Knoxville, with the term “overrated” getting tossed around quite a bit.

Longtime NFL draft analyst Todd McShay, however, says the view of Iamaleava among NFL teams is much different.

Todd McShay says the NFL is keeping a close eye on Nico Iamaleava

Iamaleava, who redshirted his first year at Tennessee, has two seasons of eligibility remaining, but he could declare for the 2027 NFL Draft if he has a great season this fall.

McShay noted this week that NFL teams are keeping a close eye on Iamaleava, while pointing out that the league’s view of the former Tennessee quarterback is different than public perception.

“Nico Iamaleava from UCLA,” said McShay while pointing out potential quarterbacks who could be drafted in 2027. “I get it — the Tennessee debacle, he transfers, all the problems, the money, this and that. And last year, [he] was up and down. I promise you, teams are keeping a close [eye on Iamaleava]. I told you this in October last year, the NFL’s view of Iamaleava is different than the public perception.”

Iamaleava is obviously talented. He has a size/athleticism combo that’s hard to find.

And NFL teams likely understand that the breakup between him and Tennessee was just business. Those kinds of situations are happening in the NIL era for a variety of reasons — just because a relationship with a school goes south doesn’t mean the player has a character issue. Sometimes big money deals just don’t work out for both sides.

If Iamaleava balls out in 2026 — and he definitely might since his situation this fall will be much better than it was last season — then NFL teams won’t hesitate to put him near the top of their draft board.