Thankfully, Cody Campbell put to rest any notion that Texas Tech might be interested in Tennessee transfer QB Nico Iamaleava.
The Nico Iamaleava situation at Tennessee has certainly captured attention in the college football world since the news broke on Saturday that the former 5-star quarterback and the team were parting ways over an unfulfilled NIL raise. Speculation immediately arose regarding his new destination, with many suggesting Texas Tech could be a contender due to their extensive offseason portal spending.
However, we’ve previously discussed why this would be an unwise move for head coach Joey McGuire and the Texas Tech football program. In short, Iamaleava’s request for $ 4 million far exceeds what he is worth.
Last season, his performance as a starter at Tennessee was mediocre, and his statistics were notably inferior to those of Texas Tech’s Behren Morton, who played despite an injury requiring major offseason surgery.
Despite ongoing speculation about whether Texas Tech would pursue this high-profile transfer, the program’s leading booster, Cody Campbell, quickly dismissed any such rumors. In response to a post from Barstool Texas Tech asking fans to choose between Iamaleava or Morton for the upcoming season, Campbell stated, “No. This is not even a rumor.”
With Nico hitting the Portal there has been some speculation that Tech might go after him. Would you rather have Nico or Behren???
— Barstool Texas Tech 🌵 (@barstoolttu) April 12, 2025
Considering Campbell’s significant role in funding Texas Tech’s program, his word carries weight. This is great news; trusting Iamaleava to lead on the field and in the locker room would be a substantial mistake.
He’s shown himself to be more of a mercenary than a committed player. While many transfers seek lucrative deals, Iamaleava’s approach of threatening his former university for financial gain, as reported by 247 Sports’ Josh Pate, sets him apart. He was among several Tennessee players who considered skipping the College Football Playoff game against Ohio State last December to leverage for better NIL deals. While college athletes should pursue their earning potential, it’s unbecoming for a quarterback to threaten to sit out a playoff game.
Ultimately, Iamaleava did play, but his performance was lackluster, completing just 14 of 31 passes for 104 yards in a hefty 42-17 loss to Ohio State.
It’s unclear if Tennessee’s struggles that game were connected to Iamaleava’s off-field drama or if Ohio State was simply the superior team, but one thing is clear: Texas Tech seems uninterested in adding Iamaleava to their roster, which is a relief. Campbell’s comments eliminate any lingering doubts, and Red Raider fans can rest easy knowing Behren Morton will be the starting quarterback this season, with Will Hammond as his eventual successor. As for Iamaleava, he can seek opportunities elsewhere.
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