• Tennessee is searching for a new quarterback after Nico Iamaleava’s departure due to NIL disagreements.
• The Vols face challenges in attracting a top-tier quarterback from the transfer portal while also managing the potential impact on current players like Jake Merklinger.
• The Vols must act quickly to secure a quarterback and retain their offensive weapons, as the uncertainty could lead to further roster departures.

On the second floor of Tennessee‘s Anderson Training Center, Billy High is working feverishly to find the Vols a new quarterback to replace Nico Iamaleava.

High, who started his career as Lane Kiffin’s UT recruiting intern in 2009, is now the director of internal and advance scouting. That means he’s the point person for identifying potential quarterback prospects in the transfer portal.

Down the hall, coach Josh Heupel and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle are meeting with players about their future with the Vols and plotting the program’s next move at its most important position.

And UT’s NIL collective must be brought into the loop once the biggest decisions are made by Heupel.

The transfer portal is open April 16-25. The Vols will get a new quarterback after Iamaleava bolted when NIL negotiations broke down.

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But it’s not as simple as UT picking a player, inking an NIL deal and announcing it to an eager fan base. There are many moving parts and big questions to answer.

Can Tennessee get a premier quarterback in transfer portal?

Landing a veteran starter is a tall order in the spring portal window. The best quarterbacks are already well paid and established in their programs.

So scratch off star quarterbacks like Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt and Kansas State’s Avery Johnson from the wish list.

However, there are proven starters willing to consider UT if the money and opportunity are right.

Iamaleava was reportedly paid more than $2 million per year via his NIL contract. If a veteran quarterback wants to transfer to UT, he would hold a reasonable amount of leverage.

However, UT must consider several factors across the roster before pulling the trigger on any quarterback.

NICO IAMALEAVA: What really hit a nerve for Josh Heupel when QB left

Is protecting Jake Merklinger a high priority?

If UT lands an established starter, redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger would presumably remain the backup, just as he would’ve been for Iamaleava.

Then Merklinger could compete for the starting job in 2026 alongside freshman George MacIntyre and five-star recruit Faizon Brandon, who’s committed to sign with the Vols in December.

But landing an established starter also could push Merklinger to the portal if he thought he had a better chance at a starting job at another school. The Vols would have to risk losing Merklinger to get a surefire starter or, at least, come to an understanding beforehand.

If UT lands a second-tier transfer, Merklinger has a shot to win the starting job this season. But he would also gain some leverage to negotiate an increase in his NIL deal.

Sure, Merklinger is unproven. He’s played only two games and thrown nine passes. But this is the blessing and the curse of UT stacking highly touted quarterback recruits on its roster.

Will other transfers impact Tennessee’s QB budget?

There’s a multi-layered cost analysis involved here.

UT must consider the cost in NIL money of a transfer quarterback, a potential raise for Merklinger if he’s the starter and other additions to the roster.

How much are they worth? And how much does paying a quarterback impact improving the roster elsewhere?

For example, the Vols have only seven scholarship wide receivers on the 2025 roster, and they’re mostly inexperienced. They need to add another receiver, but that won’t come cheap.

Chris Brazzell is UT’s most seasoned receiver with 29 receptions for 333 yards and two TDs last season. Former five-star recruit Mike Matthews had seven receptions. Braylon Staley had three catches as a freshman.

No other UT receivers have made a catch in college. They include Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson, who redshirted last season, and three true freshmen.

Whether Merklinger or a transfer starts at quarterback, they’ll need help.

Could Tennessee players enter portal based on QB decision?

The portal is a two-way street, so UT must keep its roster intact while shopping for a quarterback.

Coaches have had exit meetings with players this week, which are routine after spring practice. That’s when coaches evaluate their progress and go through their offseason plan.

With the portal opening, it’s also an opportunity to gauge players’ likelihood of transferring. The uncertainty at quarterback can be unsettling, so coaches are trying to calm any concerns.

For example, Matthews considered going into the portal in December when it appeared Iamaleava might do the same. There’s no indication that Matthews will re-consider.

But now that Iamaleava is gone, coaches must implement their portal plan quickly to keep their offensive weapons from looking elsewhere. The Vols need a quarterback, but they also need a supporting cast.

It’s a difficult balancing act, but that’s the state of college football these days.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email[email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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