ESPN Regular Slams Nico Iamaleava as 'Toxic', Warns Schools to Steer Clear Amid NIL Drama

Nico Iamaleava has become the latest lightning rod in the debate over Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals in college football, after skipping Tennessee's spring practice last Friday. The 20-year-old quarterback is reportedly set to earn $2.4 million this season, but he's looking to nearly double his pay to $4 million, sparking a storm of criticism both inside and outside the locker room.

According to reports, some schools are now offering Iamaleava less than half of his original deal, suggesting the market for college quarterbacks is more volatile than a TikTok trend. The drama escalated when Bill Plaschke, an outspoken Los Angeles Times columnist and ESPN's "Around the Horn" regular, publicly pleaded with UCLA not to recruit Iamaleava, calling him "toxic." Plaschke minced no words, saying, "He had a $2.4 million salary, he wants to nearly double it even though he hasn't won a playoff game, and he walks out on the team on the first day of spring training. He's all about the money, he's not about the team. Two-and-a-half million dollars is not enough for him even though he's an average quarterback."

Iamaleava's original NIL deal—signed while he was still in high school—was reportedly worth up to $10 million with performance-based incentives like championship victories and a potential Heisman Trophy win. But after news broke that he was seeking a new $4 million deal, similar to what other top quarterbacks are commanding, Tennessee decided to move on from their star prospect.

This week, Iamaleava officially entered the transfer portal with a "do not contact" tag, signaling he's already got his next move lined up. The rumor mill is linking him to high-profile programs like Oregon, while his situation has fueled a heated conversation about the future of college athletics and the true price of talent.

As the NIL era continues to reshape college sports, Iamaleava's saga is a reminder: with big paychecks come even bigger headlines—and plenty of unsolicited advice from sports talk veterans.