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SEC GM on Nico Iamaleava saga: ‘That’s a doomsday scenario’
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The Nico Iamaleava saga has been the top story in college football this weekend with the transfer portal set to officially re-open next week.
Tensions began to escalate earlier in the week when it was reported Iamaleava was in active negotiations with Tennessee. Then, Friday, Iamaleava skipped out on Tennessee’s final practice before its annual Orange & White spring game.
On Saturday, after Iamaleava’s pending departure became official, Oklahoma general manager Jim Nagy was asked about the ordeal.
Nagy kept his comment vague, but called it a “doomsday scenario” and said “this can’t happen here.”
Nagy took over as Oklahoma’s general manager earlier this spring. He was previously the executive director at the Senior Bowl prior to taking this job in Norman.
Nagy surely won’t be the last college football executive to comment on the ongoing situation in Knoxville. Iamaleava is perhaps the first SEC quarterback to depart a starting role due to an NIL dispute. In declining to re-negotiate, Tennessee also set a potential precedent for future schools who may find themselves in a similar situation.
The events of this weekend leave both Iamaleava and Tennessee with uncertain futures. Iamaleava could have several intriguing options in the portal, but there’s not much known at this stage about who will be recruiting him. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel confirmed plans to add another quarterback via the portal during the spring window, but it remains to be seen what kind of market there will be for other quarterbacks who are looking for a fresh start.
The spring portal window opens on April 16.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
