There's now going to be a bit of a dark cloud over the Tennessee football spring game and this is not what Josh Heupel or anyone expected. Unless you've been under a rock or without internet for the past couple of days, you know exactly what's causing all the drama in Knoxville.
That'd be the absence of star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who was a no-show for practice on Friday amidst contract talks with the Vols that appear to be going south. According to Knoxville radio host Tony Basilio, who is well connected with Tennessee athletics, Nico has gone 'radio silent' since Thursday night.
No one has heard from him and the fact that he skipped practice on Friday was a total stunner. On Saturday, Heupel and the Vols are getting ready for the annual spring game, but per Basilio, Iamaleava isn't expected to be suited up with the rest of his teammates for that either:
According to @TonyBasilio - Nico Iamaleava has gone radio silent today, catching the Vols as a whole totally off guard. Not only did he skip practice today, but he's also not expected to be at the spring game tomorrow pic.twitter.com/JVMuKyfgk3
— All For Tennessee (@allfortennessee) April 12, 2025
Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava also expected to be a no-show for the spring game
If Iamaleava also skips the spring game and doesn't communicate anything to Heupel, that'd obviously be the worst-case scenario. However, regardless of if Iamaleava is around or not, the Vols will still be ready to put on a show at Neyland Stadium.
Besides Nico, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre are the other quarterbacks who will be throwing the ball all over the field. Merklinger enters the season as the backup quarterback, while MacIntyre, an early enrollee as part of the 2025 class, will be QB3.
Merklinger is entering his second season in Knoxville. The Georgia product signed with Tennessee in 2024 ranked four stars and the No. 11 quarterback in the country per the 247Sports Composite. He chose UT over additional rides from Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and many others.
MacIntyre made things official with the Vols this past fall, signing also as a four-star prospect and the No. 13 QB in the land. The in-state standout chose Tennessee over 35 additional offers. Keep in mind that 5-star QB Faizon Brandon, the No. 1 signal-caller in the country, will be Tennessee-bound in 2026.
Iamaleava's future with the Vols is now in serious doubt. Just a few days ago, it seemed like he was locked in as the program's offensive leader and that he was going to be one of the best QBs in the SEC this fall. Suddenly, no one knows if that's going to be the case or not.