Alleged NIL infractions involving the Tennessee football program triggered an NCAA inquiry. Donde Plowman, the chancellor of the university, answered the accusations right away. But a recent event regarding rookie quarterback Nico Iamaleava’s NIL contract sheds light on the circumstances.
The Volunteers QB has an NIL contract under question but it reportedly should not break NCAA guidelines
In early 2022, Nico Iamaleava entered into a contract agreement with Sprye Sports that involved a limited assignment of his NIL rights. The NCAA could be led to believe that Spyre somehow influenced Iamaleava to attend Tennessee.
“Nothing in [the] agreement constitutes any form of inducement to [the] athlete to enroll at any school and/or join any athletic team,” per lawyer Tom Mars. The agreement was reportedly fully consistent with NCAA NIL guidelines.
The NCAA’s guidelines have been under criticism. Namely, Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman said this about the organization’s navigation of the new era:
