‘I would’ve paid him’ – Former Tennessee Vols player would’ve handled the Nico Iamaleava situation differently
Former Tennessee Vols defensive back Malik Foreman says he would’ve handled the Nico Iamaleava situation differently than head coach Josh Heupel. Foreman, though, believes Heupel ultimately handled the situation the correct way. Iamaleava transferred from Tennessee to UCLA earlier this spring amid reports that he was working to negotiate a new NIL deal. The former […]
Former Tennessee Vols defensive back Malik Foreman says he would’ve handled the Nico Iamaleava situation differently than head coach Josh Heupel.
Foreman, though, believes Heupel ultimately handled the situation the correct way.
Iamaleava transferred from Tennessee to UCLA earlier this spring amid reports that he was working to negotiate a new NIL deal.
The former Tennessee quarterback, however, said at Big 10 Media Days last week that he transferred to UCLA to be closer to family, not because of money
During an appearance on the Vols Fanatics Show this week, Foreman, who played at Tennessee from 2013 to 2016, said that he would’ve given Iamaleava the NIL raise that his camp reportedly wanted.
Foreman doesn’t think Iamaleava deserved a significant raise, but he feels like the Vols would be in a better spot in 2025 with Iamaleava under center.
“I’m just going to say it, it might not be popular, I would’ve paid him,” said Foreman. “I would have paid him. But he did not deserve $4 million dollars. Come on now, what are we talking about? You go to a great university, you make so much good money — and the people love you. And I don’t know if this is family or his agent, or whatever it may be. I don’t know. All I’m saying is, I liked Nico. We went to the playoffs and got embarrassed in Columbus — that’s ok. I think if Nico would’ve just put his foot down with the people that were around him, things could’ve been different. But at the end of the day, you can’t go into work, do 70 percent of the job and then ask for a raise. That makes no sense.”
“Because I want to go into a season with a quarterback I know, that I know is able to go out there and produce,” explained Foreman. when asked why he would’ve paid Iamaleava even though he said the quarterback didn’t deserve a raise. “I don’t know about these guys that we have. They might be good. I don’t know them, though….but I’ll also say that Heupel did a good job of not doing what I would’ve done, which is give him the money. With the NIL environment and the transfer portal and these kids having so much freedom, yes I love that, but at the end of the day, you’ve gotta earn your stripes.”
Losing your starting quarterback after spring practice isn’t ideal — especially when no one else on the roster has much experience in the offense.
But at the same time, Tennessee had to draw the line somewhere — otherwise there could’ve been more athletes that stormed into Heupel’s office demanding a raise.
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