Nico Iamaleava’s Holdout Is a Product of Tennessee's Own Making

Iamaleava reportedly did not attend a Tennessee spring practice Friday, setting up a standoff with the school just before the spring transfer portal window opens. | Adam Cairns-Imagn Images

On February 13, 2024, Tennessee attorney general Jonathan Skrmetti issued a chest-thumping statement outside a courthouse in Greeneville, Tenn. Skrmetti was legally challenging the NCAA on behalf of the Tennessee Volunteers, and specifically on behalf of quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

“It’s a wonderful day to fight on behalf of our student-athletes in Tennessee; they are the backbone of college sports,” Skrmetti said. “Due to the NCAA’s arbitrary and illegal rules, student-athletes are being harmed and prevented from making important decisions concerning their name, image, and likeness rights—which may have a big impact on their academic and financial futures. Meanwhile, everybody else involved in college sports is getting rich at those student-athletes’ expense. That is not legal, not right and it needs to change.”