Nico to UCLA (whew - glad that's over)

[ArizonaLonghorn]

No word on the $$ (reportedly nowhere near the asked for $4 million) but at least he's playing near home.  And his dad and 'uncle' are saying a big reason they left Tennessee was because they wanted Nico to play in a scheme that better prepares him for the NFL.  Yeah, OK.

Colin Cowherd was the first to report this story so a tip of the cap to him.

Ex-Tennessee Quarterback Nico Iamaleava Set to Transfer to UCLA  (SI.com - free)

Nico Iamaleava expected to transfer to UCLA after departure from Tennessee: Source  (Athletic - $)

 

[justwinbaby]

Good luck to him

[Burnt Orange Horn]

Rather shows how desperate and decrepit the UCLA program has become.

[Quinncent McManning, Jr.]

Well I don’t think they have any good players left on the team so sure… Nico take the nil. This will go well. 

[Tuco Ramirez]

His dad really didn’t help him here. 

[syracusehorn]

46 minutes ago, Burnt Orange Horn said:

Rather shows how desperate and decrepit the UCLA program has become.

None of their fans will even know about it. They don't pay attention.

[ArizonaLonghorn]

18 minutes ago, Tuco Ramirez said:

His dad really didn’t help him here. 

Amen.  His reps (dad and handler) really messed up by not having a backup offer in hand before trying to force Tennessee to renegotiate.  No leverage.  Like bluffing with a 2 and 3 offsuit hole cards. They totally misjudged how Tennessee would react and then both sides were boxed in when he skipped practice.

Wonder how much he got from UCLA?  I'd guess more than $1 million but less than $2.  Plus the hit to his reputation (which, let's be real here, won't matter much if he plays great for the Bruins - but he had a lot better players surrounding him in Knoxville so no surprise if he struggles).

Anyway, glad this is settled.  Back to Texas and the transfer portal 🙂

[Texas fan in Georgia]

Apparently Nico’s dad has been doing this since high school. He pulled the other 2 kids out 3 games into their junior year and moved them to another high school. Dude is weird

[Nuufaola]

He is going to crap when he sees stands with 30k people in them and tickets going for 5 bucks 

[Quinncent McManning, Jr.]

Maybe he likes Asian girls like our old friend Soso Jamabo 

[jkates]

1 hour ago, Texas fan in Georgia said:

Apparently Nico’s dad has been doing this since high school. He pulled the other 2 kids out 3 games into their junior year and moved them to another high school. Dude is weird

Where they were ruled ineligible and didn't get to play. 

[TheContractor12]

1 hour ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

Amen.  His reps (dad and handler) really messed up by not having a backup offer in hand before trying to force Tennessee to renegotiate.  No leverage.  Like bluffing with a 2 and 3 offsuit hole cards. They totally misjudged how Tennessee would react and then both sides were boxed in when he skipped practice.

Wonder how much he got from UCLA?  I'd guess more than $1 million but less than $2.  Plus the hit to his reputation (which, let's be real here, won't matter much if he plays great for the Bruins - but he had a lot better players surrounding him in Knoxville so no surprise if he struggles).

Anyway, glad this is settled.  Back to Texas and the transfer portal 🙂

Twitter reports say offer was around $1.5. Seems about right though I don’t think he is that good a QB but he can work in the right system. 

[thatdude2]

I actually kind of buy the system talk. There had to be more going on behind the scenes. Possibly Tennessee wanting to lower the amount of money they said they would pay him. He had a lot of hype, but he didn’t live up to the hype. Also the Veer and Shoot hasn’t prepared a QB for a lucrative career in the NFL. RGIII is the only one with any success. I’m not sure if UCLA will help him in that regard. 

[FAFO]

16 minutes ago, thatdude2 said:

I actually kind of buy the system talk. There had to be more going on behind the scenes. Possibly Tennessee wanting to lower the amount of money they said they would pay him. He had a lot of hype, but he didn’t live up to the hype. Also the Veer and Shoot hasn’t prepared a QB for a lucrative career in the NFL. RGIII is the only one with any success. I’m not sure if UCLA will help him in that regard. 

Seems like something you think about prior to going in the first place… scheme?

[Burnt Orange Horn]

3 hours ago, syracusehorn said:

None of their fans will even know about it. They don't pay attention.

Good point.  Did they even have a spring event?

[TheContractor12]

59 minutes ago, thatdude2 said:

I actually kind of buy the system talk. There had to be more going on behind the scenes. Possibly Tennessee wanting to lower the amount of money they said they would pay him. He had a lot of hype, but he didn’t live up to the hype. Also the Veer and Shoot hasn’t prepared a QB for a lucrative career in the NFL. RGIII is the only one with any success. I’m not sure if UCLA will help him in that regard. 

we dont know the truth but if it is scheme why not go in the portal earlier after the playoffs. also, why quit going to practice and texting coaches and teammates? that part does not make sense if its scheme related. i doubt its mostly scheme. 

[thatdude2]

42 minutes ago, FAFO said:

Seems like something you think about prior to going in the first place… scheme?

Had to get the bag first. NFL is the dream. Realistically the top 10 QBs in the class of 2023 will not all be NFL starters or even draft picks. Gotta get the multi million when you can to buy your house, car, and set some money aside. This is going to be the most money a lot of really good players make in their lives.

[thatdude2]

1 minute ago, TheContractor12 said:

we dont know the truth but if it is scheme why not go in the portal earlier after the playoffs. also, why quit going to practice and texting coaches and teammates? that part does not make sense if its scheme related. i doubt its mostly scheme. 

Might’ve been with his girl, and she could be the jealous type. I don’t know. You gotta ask Nico.

[MrWytee]

9 hours ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

Amen.  His reps (dad and handler) really messed up by not having a backup offer in hand before trying to force Tennessee to renegotiate.  No leverage.  Like bluffing with a 2 and 3 offsuit hole cards. They totally misjudged how Tennessee would react and then both sides were boxed in when he skipped practice.

Wonder how much he got from UCLA?  I'd guess more than $1 million but less than $2.  Plus the hit to his reputation (which, let's be real here, won't matter much if he plays great for the Bruins - but he had a lot better players surrounding him in Knoxville so no surprise if he struggles).

Anyway, glad this is settled.  Back to Texas and the transfer portal 🙂

Plus those CA state taxes..... They fumbled the bag. 💰 

[Drunk randoke]

Aight

[Hashtag]

This is the best tweet

 

[camridleyfan]

What if I told you its not over?? 🤔

[Nuufaola]

We had a couple of near misses, but it was with two pretty smart kids who played their hands in a tactful way.  It was also early in NIL, and I am not sure anyone at UT had perfected roster management at the time.  We are pretty good at it now, and I think that the agents know how to deal with UT as well.  

 

This really goes to the type of kid that Sark is recruiting.  We are picking good kids with good parents.  We have passed on a bunch of kids whose parents were nuts. 

 

[Steamboat Willie]

I really wonder what Nico’s take away from the experience will be.Does he learn something that may be helpful down the road if he is fortunate enough to have another opportunity as good or better than the one he had in Tennessee or will he get caught up in the blame game?

[GoHorns1]

16 hours ago, ArizonaLonghorn said:

No word on the $$ (reportedly nowhere near the asked for $4 million) but at least he's playing near home.  And his dad and 'uncle' are saying a big reason they left Tennessee was because they wanted Nico to play in a scheme that better prepares him for the NFL.  Yeah, OK.

Colin Cowherd was the first to report this story so a tip of the cap to him.

Ex-Tennessee Quarterback Nico Iamaleava Set to Transfer to UCLA  (SI.com - free)

Nico Iamaleava expected to transfer to UCLA after departure from Tennessee: Source  (Athletic - $)

 

Josh Heupel’s half the field offensive is why Marshall Manning won’t go to Tennessee.