The Tennessee Volunteers continue to be in the market for a new quarterback with Nico Iamaleava surprisingly bolting Knoxville, Tenn. As Iamaleava enters the transfer portal, the Vols could do some shopping of their own to find a potential replacement.
Tennessee has Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre on the roster, but neither player is a proven quarterback. The Vols would be wise to at least explore the transfer portal market.
On3’s Pete Nakos reported that Tennessee is turning to a Notre Dame Fighting Irish signal-caller as a potential solution. The Vols are at least kicking the tires on Steve Angeli, who is entering the transfer portal, per On3.
Notre Dame quarterback Steve Angeli is entering the transfer portal, a source told On3 on Thursday afternoon,” Nakos wrote on Thursday. “With one season of eligibility remaining, the grad transfer will be one of the top available quarterbacks in the spring portal market.
“Angeli’s portal entry comes as Tennessee evaluates the quarterback market following their public divorce with Nico Iamaleava. Sources told On3 that the Volunteers will evaluate Angeli, but Tennessee continues to wait to see how the quarterback market develops.”
Tennessee will need to find an immediate and significant upgrade who can seamlessly transition and thrive in 2025,” ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Max Olson detailed on Tuesday. “This would involve a transfer learning a new offense, winning over the team and having the arm talent to be an adequate maestro in Heupel’s up-tempo system.
“If this is going to be an established Power 4 starter, he’d also have to be OK walking away from a locker room, coaching staff and teammates who he’s bonded with for months ahead of the season.”
