Nico Iamaleava stood at the Mandalay Bay conference center in a powder blue suit, visibly notable at Big Ten media days. Physical details included tightly braided hair, black-rimmed glasses, a silver diamond-studded watch, and a pink elastic band honoring his mother. He maintained a soft-spoken, guarded demeanor while answering repeated questions. His camp pushed for a $4 million NIL contract for 2025, nearly double his original agreement. Tennessee and its collective declined the increase, and after he missed spring practice, head coach Josh Heupel moved the program on from him. Iamaleava entered the transfer portal and transferred to UCLA to be closer to home and family, citing mischaracterizations about his exit.
Standing inside the Mandalay Bay conference center, all 6 feet and 4 inches of him draped in a powder blue suit, there is nowhere for Nico Iamaleava to hide. His hair is tightly braided and held by a rubber band, while black-rimmed glasses perch on his nose. Iamaleava's left wrist is adorned by a silver, diamond-studded watch worth thousands; his right is encircled by a pink elastic band honoring his mother, Marleinna, a breast cancer survivor.
In April, ESPN reported Iamaleava's camp pushed for a $4 million NIL contract for 2025 -- an amount nearly double his original agreement. Tennessee and its collective did not budge, and after Iamaleava missed a spring practice, head coach Josh Heupel announced the program was moving on from him. Iamaleava entered the transfer portal and soon after landed at UCLA.
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