'23 CA QB Nico Iamaleava (Tennessee Verbal)

[Irish du Nord]

*stands on soap box*

Look.

I'm all for NIL. I think these guys should be getting money when they play. That being said:

• Iamaleave got $8M to sign with UT;
• At BEST, you can call his career thus far mediocre;
• He absolutely sucked against OSU in the playoffs; yet
• He's holding out for more money rather than spending his time competing with his teammates this spring.

Notre Dame isn't perfect, and I'm not saying that they are. But this is the exact reason why ND shouldn't, and seemingly is not, simply handing kids big $$ (as many on this board want) when it's made clear during the recruiting process that the individual is only looking for the largest bag.

I'd so much rather reward the players who WANT TO BE at ND with financial compensation, rather than simply handing out cash to get them to sign on the dotted line. I love ND's approach as it currently stands, even if it doesn't guarantee Top 5 recruiting classes year-after-year; there's simply no justification for this kid demanding to be treated in a way separate and apart from his teammates, and if I was Heupel I'd tell him to kick rocks.

*steps off soapbox*

I'll add to the soap box. Al Washington got a ton of shit for his recruiting when ND played the game differently in the '24 class. The staff moved on from these type of guys and got ND fits who turned out to be really quality players. I'd take Young, Thomas, Sevillano, and Mullins over Justin Scott, Marquise Lightfoot, Elijah Rushing, and Brandon Davis Swain right now anyways. (Mullins was injured the entire season and still had as many tackles as the latter three - EDIT: BDS had one, sorry - and the practice reports on him and Sevillano are really positive)

These recruiting indictments are formed before anybody steps on campus, and we act like they are real things whether or not it conforms to how good the players are in reality, or how much the staff prioritized them.

 

[gregm83]

not going to practice to presumably hold out for more money is a choice I would not have made

 

[Irish4life]

It's only gross if you choose to engage in it.

This kid made it VERY clear during the recruiting process that he was going to go to the highest bidder, and Tenn chose to throw their hat in the ring. You live by the sword, you die by the sword.

ND isn't playing this game, and while that may be frustrating to many on this board, this is largely the reason why. You don't want your kids acting like mercenaries, then don't make them central to your program. Simple as that.

ND is absolutely, unquestionably playing the NIL game for HS recruiting lol

 

[IAIrish]

Pay for performance. Hiring former nfl front office staff like Mike Martin as GM will only emphasize that approach under Freeman.

This isn't as hard or gross as some make it out to be, but these kids are gonna need to grow up in a hurry if they want to get paid more than most adults do. It'll be cold blooded for many.

 

[Katzenboyer]

ND is absolutely, unquestionably playing the NIL game for HS recruiting lol

There's a difference between giving kids upfront NIL packages and paying full-blown mercenaries. ND is absolutely engaged in the former, but not the latter.

 

[pumpdog20]

I'd say it'll get gross when said person holds out then ultimately transfers out of nowhere. Leaving the team scrambling for a QB.

 

[IAIrish]

I'd say it'll get gross when said person holds out then ultimately transfers out of nowhere. Leaving the team scrambling for a QB.

Fair. But there'll only be a few teams that have the budget to accommodate the price he's asking, and even fewer who'll post it after watching his film.

I think the market will correct itself here, but some kids (and their circles) will get burned and have a reality check.

 

[Irish#1]

ND is absolutely, unquestionably playing the NIL game for HS recruiting lol

They are, but ND is still making sure the kid is at least close to a fit for ND. Tenn decided to ignore the warning signs when they paid him.

 

[Katzenboyer]

They are, but ND is still making sure the kid is at least close to a fit for ND. Tenn decided to ignore the warning signs when they paid him.

Exactly.

It's also going to be incredible to see whether 1) Tennessee caves to his demands, and 2) how the fanbase reacts. If he ends up coming back and struggles in SEC play - like he did last year - it's going to get ugly for him, quickly.

He'll basically need a Heisman-level year in order to justify this move. Anything short of that, and the fans are going to turn, and quickly.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

I don’t agree with this move by Nico, but they were in the playoffs so he couldn’t have been that awful.

 

[NDRock]

My UT buddy said they gave him more money after the season but wants to renegotiate again. UT said no and now he wants to go to USC. I hope all that’s true.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I don’t agree with this move by Nico, but they were in the playoffs so he couldn’t have been that awful.

Look at this game splits, man. He compiled something like 75% of his stats against garbage competition.

EDIT:

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Wow. Does this somehow lead to us losing Kenny to his home state team? I’d rather Nico stayed put,

 

[KPENN]

 

[Irishnuke]

Guys in the sports world named Nico have been insufferable douchebags recently. Nico Hoerner better not pull some BS

 

[BoredIrish]

My UT buddy said they gave him more money after the season but wants to renegotiate again. UT said no and now he wants to go to USC. I hope all that’s true.

I still don't want to see him at SC.

 

[NDVirginia19]

He's really great at throwing to Wide Receivers with 10 yards of seperation, I'll give him that

 

[Dale]

Tennessee was Iowa with more window dressing this year

 

[NDRock]

I still don't want to see him at SC.

He’s overrated. Not afraid.

 

[KPENN]

I’m good with him showing up at USC and rocking the boat. #14 can sling it

 

[BoredIrish]

He’s overrated. Not afraid.

That may be true... but SC deserves to have Drew Pyne starting for the next decade.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I still don't want to see him at SC.

Our D would take his lunch money and punch him in the teeth.

 

[NDRock]

That may be true... but SC deserves to have Drew Pyne starting for the next decade.

Nah, I prefer the highly ranked, me first types who shrink when they get punched in the face.

 

[Dale]

I wonder if Faizon Brandon’s NIL deal is larger than Nico’s

 

[NorthDakota]

I hope Tennessee tells him to leave. Coaches be to put their foot down on this

 

[ColinKSU]

I hope Tennessee tells him to leave. Coaches be to put their foot down on this

Nothing he has done up to now could not be replaced. This is clown stuff by him or his team.

If you trust Heupel's system, you tell Nico he can find a better deal somewhere else.

 

[Irish4life]

TIFWIW, Andy and Ari mentioned ND as someone rumored here

 

[Dale]

Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to guess ND might have a QB transfer.

Minchey is also from Tennessee

 

[SoIll]

Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to guess ND might have a QB transfer.

Minchey is also from Tennessee

He’s referring to Nico going to ND. Not Tennessee taking a ND transfer.

 

[Plankton]

Nico "If you don't capitulate to my demands" Iamaleava

Has quite the ring to it.