Key Vols player offers candid reaction to quarterback Nico Iamaleava's departure from Tennessee
A key Tennessee Vols player offered a candid reaction this past week to quarterback Nico Iamaleava's surprising spring departure from UT. Iamaleava transferred to UCLA earlier this month in the wake of a report that he was negotiating a new NIL deal with Tennessee. On Friday, Vols sophomore defensive back Boo Carter spoke on Iamaleava's […]
A key Tennessee Vols player offered a candid reaction this past week to quarterback Nico Iamaleava's surprising spring departure from UT.
Iamaleava transferred to UCLA earlier this month in the wake of a report that he was negotiating a new NIL deal with Tennessee.
On Friday, Vols sophomore defensive back Boo Carter spoke on Iamaleava's departure from Tennessee.
"It was really shocking that he left," said Carter on Friday during a radio appearance in Chattanooga (via the Chattanooga Times Free Press). "He left his brothers behind, but this may be a better opportunity for him at the same time. You've got to go with your gut, but I feel like he should have stayed and at least talked with the coaches…We didn't know what was going on when he didn't show up for practice that day."
"When he wasn't there that entire practice, we kind of knew," added Carter. "Coach Heup (Josh Heupel) told us he wasn't part of the program anymore, and that's when we really found out he was gone."
Carter, who is set to receive reps on the offensive side of the ball in 2025 in addition to his primary role on defense, has known Iamaleava since before college.
Iamaleava noted earlier this spring that he used to play against Carter on the 7-on-7 circuit.
With Iamaleava heading to UCLA, the Vols will feature a starting quarterback battle this fall between redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, true freshman George MacIntyre, and UCLA transfer senior Joey Aguilar (Aguilar's addition hasn't officially been announced by Tennessee yet).
