The dispute between Tennessee and quarterback Nico Iamaleava reached a boiling level on Saturday morning when the 2 sides selected to go their separate methods. Following the Volunteers spring sport on Saturday afternoon, Heupel addressed Iamaleava’s departure and assessed his choices at quarterback.
Whether or not the quarterback resolution is already on the roster or within the switch portal, the Volunteers have just a few to select from over the subsequent few months, and the spring sport was a chance for Heupel to have a look at two of them.
Tennessee held its spring sport simply hours after Iamaleava was faraway from the roster, and redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger received the primary reps alongside broad receivers Mike Matthews, Braylon Staley and Trey Weary.
Merklinger was Tennessee’s third-string quarterback final season, behind Iamaleava and Gaston Moore. He noticed restricted taking part in time in two appearances, finishing 6 of 9 cross makes an attempt for 48 yards.
Merklinger received off to a shaky begin within the spring sport, however recovered for some good throws, together with an extended landing cross to star wideout Mike Matthews.
Merklinger was a four-star recruit in Tennessee’s 2024 signing class and the No. 12 quarterback in that cycle, in line with 247Sports. The Calvary Day Faculty (Georgia) product selected the Vols with different applications like Georgia, North Carolina, Louisville and NC State expressing curiosity in him.
Saturday afternoon’s spring sport was the primary actual alternative for early enrollee George MacIntyre to point out off his abilities in something resembling a sport setting. Regardless of his lack of expertise, MacIntyre arrived in Knoxville as a highly-touted prospect.
Like Merklinger, MacIntyre had his ups and downs, however he additionally confirmed flashes of his excessive upside whereas throwing for just a few scores. A type of highlights got here when he related with fellow freshman Radarious Jackson for an extended rating.
An in-state product out of Brentwood Academy, MacIntyre was a four-star recruit and the No. 17 quarterback within the 2025 signing class, in line with the 247Sports rankings. He selected the Vols over LSU, Michigan, Alabama and Clemson.
Merklinger and MacIntyre give Tennessee a pair of gifted younger quarterbacks with good upside, however each gamers are nonetheless fairly younger, so the Volunteers could dip into the NCAA Switch Portal to search out an skilled starter for 2025.
Due of the timing of Iamaleava’s departure, the group’s choices are considerably restricted. The SEC would not enable gamers to switch throughout the convention through the spring window.
Along with Merklinger and MacIntyre, Tennessee additionally has a dedication from 2026 recruit Faizon Brandon, 247Sports’ No. 1 general participant in that class. Whereas the longer term seems shiny, the Vols are most certainly searching for a bridge quarterback for 2025.
In his post-spring press convention, Heupel spoke about Iamaleava’s departure, the efficiency of his two remaining quarterbacks and the potential of dipping into the switch portal subsequent week.
All the things Heupel stated about Nico Iamaleava, his QB scenario
Opening assertion
“Right this moment’s panorama of faculty soccer is totally different than what it has been. It is unlucky, simply the scenario and the place we’re at with Nico. I need to thank him for every thing he is completed since he is gotten right here, from a recruit to the place he was as a participant and the way he competed contained in the constructing. Nice appreciation for that facet of it. Clearly, we’re transferring ahead as a program with out him. I stated it to the blokes right now. There is not any one which’s larger than the Energy T, and that features me. They hear me say that quite a bit inside that group room. This program has been round a very long time with lots of nice coaches and nice gamers who laid the cornerstone items for the custom that’s Tennessee soccer. It is gonna be round a very long time after I am completed and after they’re gone.
“That is what’s particular about being right here is that there’s a legacy and a convention that’s so wealthy. A emblem that is acknowledged not simply throughout the nation, however internationally too. Right this moment, you bought to see 110 guys that ran out and competed their butts off for Tennessee, doing it the best method. Actually happy with the spring that they’ve had, but additionally how they culminated it as nicely. Enthusiastic about the place we’re at proper now, and there is lots of work for this group to proceed to develop to have the power to chase the issues they need within the fall. We’re the place we should be as nicely.
“Our coaches and employees, guys which have been right here the final 4 years, have rebuilt this program. It is constructed to win. I say that as we transfer ahead from right now too. This program is able to go win subsequent fall. As a program, since we have been right here, we have received with lots of totally different QBs. I’ve completed it traditionally, in my profession, with lots of totally different QBs. A few of them have been youthful. A few of them have been older. We’ll have a quarterback that is able to go win and assist us compete for a championship.”
On the timing of Iamaleava’s departure
“If it is gonna occur, rip the band-aid. We have got lots of nice work from the 2 guys which might be right here, and we have got the possibility to maneuver ahead as a program. It is unlucky, within the panorama of faculty soccer, that this occurs at this level. … If it is gonna occur, and typically it occurs by way of damage in sport 5 or sport six. I’ve had it in my profession the place we misplaced a beginning quarterback earlier than we began coaching camp — the day of the beginning of coaching camp. On the finish of the day, that is the best group sport there may be. That group that misplaced him on day one, they rallied collectively. Adversity, when it strikes, you’ve got received two decisions. It could possibly deliver you collectively or divide you. That group got here collectively and in the end went on to win a convention championship that 12 months. This group, inside that locker room, they’re robust. They’re aggressive. They care about one another. We gotta develop collectively.”
On his dealings with Iamaleava’s camp over the past 72 hours
“Wednesday was a apply day. Thursday, our gamers had been off. Friday was the primary time we had been again within the constructing as a group. That was the construction of the week within the lead-up to the spring sport, giving these guys a day without work. I am not gonna get into the main points of every thing and the timing of that. That is simply within the equity of each events. He is transferring on. We’re transferring on too. We’ll be able to roll after we get to subsequent fall.”
On when it grew to become obvious Tennessee would half methods with Iamaleava
“Friday morning when he was a no-show. You come off the apply discipline and there is not any communication.”
On how the group rallied across the scenario
“Our group must deal with it with maturity too. Our gamers have an appreciation for Nico and what he is completed since he is been right here, like I stated initially of the press convention. On the finish of the day, all people in school soccer is coping with this because the portal opens up right here this week. On the finish of the day, it is my accountability and our employees’s accountability to search out 105 guys who’re going to offer their all for Tennessee day in and day trip, definitely on gameday too. We’re gonna go do this.”
On the assist he and his program have obtained from these outdoors this system
“I would not be stunned if Vol Nation rallies round this group of gamers and this program. I’ve been right here lengthy sufficient and seen sufficient issues occur that it is why I contemplate it the best fan base in school sports activities, not simply school soccer. I have not paid consideration to social media at this level. Gonna attempt to keep off it for some time right here too.”
On what he would change about school soccer to stop these conditions
“Man, I really feel such as you guys have dinner plans, and I really feel like we do not have lengthy sufficient to get by way of every thing and all of the modifications I and possibly many of the coaches would need in school soccer. It is like gameday. You gotta be prepared to maneuver onto the subsequent play. That is my accountability in main this program. It is our gamers’ accountability too.”
On the potential of touchdown a beginning QB within the switch portal
“Anytime your roster has the chance to alter, that is in December or the spring, as you undergo the method you are at all times evaluating what you may have in your roster. The place you are, I do not need to say weak, however the place numbers won’t be proper. Accidents or no matter. You are attempting to get your roster to the place you give your self the most effective probability to compete once you get to kickoff within the fall. Definitely, with solely two scholarship gamers on the place, we’re gonna should get one other man.”
On whether or not he is had any communication with Iamaleava since he left
“I’ve not.”
On the group’s coverage about gamers not displaying up, speaking
“On the finish of the day, simply in a management place, you may have requirements of who you might want to be contained in the constructing and out of it. On the identical time, each particular person is a bit bit totally different. In management, I’ve discovered to maintain a cool head and likewise perceive the dynamics of all conditions, household and every thing.”
On his ardour for teaching regardless of school soccer’s points
“What occurs outdoors the sport has modified in some methods, however the sport hasn’t modified. You gotta be robust, sensible and bodily. You gotta play extraordinarily exhausting. You gotta have fundamentals and method. I select to educate school soccer as a result of I like coping with 18- to 22-year-olds more often than not. I like the pageantry of faculty soccer. The NFL is totally different, not in a foul method, it is simply totally different.
“I like the expansion of younger individuals, taking anyone that reveals up from totally different backgrounds and serving to them develop of their maturity as a person and the way that helps them develop as a soccer participant too. It is an opportunity to be in the course of a journey of a person or a participant, versus being on the again finish or the vacation spot level. I like a lot about this sport and this time-frame. The very best a part of my day is after they present up on a regular basis. When you may have a employees like mine is, that is selfless and cares in regards to the individuals round them, man. I do not contemplate it work. I get to go compete and attempt to be our greatest each single day. It is superior strolling in there.”
On the frustrations with the enterprise facet of faculty sports activities
“Effectively, that is the half that is modified for certain. It is part of this sport at this level in each job anybody has. Not 100% of it’s precisely what you need. On the identical time, I can perceive the gamers’ perspective too, having performed the sport too. There’s some advantages to it too.”
On the play of Merklinger and MacIntyre
“I assumed they did a extremely good job right now, for probably the most half. Clearly, Merk had the one choose on the double transfer the place the security is a participant in the course of the sector. For probably the most half, they dealt with the operation fairly nicely. There is a couple checks we will clear up, simply on the operations facet of it and the final word verify. However they moved the soccer and made performs. Thought they used their ft. Clearly, we weren’t reside. They’re gonna have to make use of their ft out in area. It was an ideal day for each of them being younger gamers in entrance of that crowd having to be they man and go function.”
On his message to Merklinger and MacIntyre
“Go have enjoyable and compete right now. It isn’t gonna be excellent, by no means can be. Similar factor I stated to the group. There is a method that you have to function from the snap to the whistle. Then you definitely gotta learn to function from the whistle to the snap too. Thought these guys did a very good job.”
