National college football analyst appears be obsessed with Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava's NIL deal
CBS Sports college football analyst/reporter Dennis Dodd seems to be obsessed with Tennessee Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava's alleged $8 million NIL deal. For more than a year, Dodd has made subtle references to Iamaleava's NIL deal, even suggesting early last year, with no evidence, that there were already "whispers Iamaleava isn't worth the $8 million". Earlier this week, […]
CBS Sports college football analyst/reporter Dennis Dodd seems to be obsessed with Tennessee Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava's alleged $8 million NIL deal.
For more than a year, Dodd has made subtle references to Iamaleava's NIL deal, even suggesting early last year, with no evidence, that there were already "whispers Iamaleava isn't worth the $8 million".
Earlier this week, Dodd revealed his post-spring top 25 college football rankings. And while discussing why Tennessee is at No. 16 in his rankings, Dodd again referenced Iamaleava's NIL deal for no reason.
"Nico Iamaleava is expected to start earning his reported $8 million NIL salary immediately," wrote Dodd.
Dodd wrote a blurb about each team in his top 25 rankings. And the only reference he made to an NIL deal for a player was in his blurb about Iamaleava and the Vols.
That's despite the fact that the team at No. 1 in his rankings — the Georgia Bulldogs — has a quarterback in Carson Beck that reportedly wanted "upwards of $4 million" to return to UGA in 2024.
Zero reference to Beck's NIL request from Dodd, though.
It's as if Dodd thinks that Iamaleava is the only quarterback in college football that's earning some significant NIL cash.
It's clear that Dodd, a reporter who has trashed the Vols plenty of times over the years, has something personal against Tennessee. There's simply no other explanation for his subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) jabs at the Vols.
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