According to a report by ESPN’s Chris Low, Max Olson, and Adam Rittenberg, the USC Trojans were among the teams that avoided chasing the former Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
“Sources at USC, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Texas Tech, and several other Power 4 programs told ESPN they weren’t getting involved with Iamaleava. Some had quarterbacks locked in, others were hesitant to deal with Iamaleava’s representatives,” the ESPN reporters wrote.
The Trojans could be among either described groups, as Lincoln Riley says, “Jayden Maiava is clearly USC’s top QB right now.”
USC Trojans Were Not Getting Involved With Nico Iamaleava
But either way, it seems they dodged a bullet as the report drags Iamaleava’s representation through the mud.
It indicates a pattern of problematic behavior by Iamaleava’s camp, including what appears to be a lie Iamaleava’s team told UT. Specifically, “Multiple sources at Tennessee told ESPN that Iamaleava missed two offseason workouts in February and that his father told Tennessee coaches that Iamaleava’s attorney advised him to skip workouts until he worked things out with Spyre. Iamaleava’s camp contends the absence was over a payment issue with Spyre. A Spyre representative told ESPN that there were no missed payments. Nic Iamaleava could not be reached for comment,” the ESPN reporters wrote.
The situation ultimately led to Iamaleava leaving “several million dollars down.” By all accounts, Iamaleava’s camp was acting against the best interests of the player. The way his camp handled the situation “limiting his options and destroying his rep in the industry.”
In hindsight, USC’s decision to avoid involvement in Iamaleava’s recruitment appears to have been prudent, allowing the program to sidestep the complications and negative publicity associated with his transfer.
On the other hand, the Trojans inter-city rival has just signed up to manage this team for the foreseeable future. The UCLA Bruins not only brought Nico on, but also added his brother Madden as the QB’s successor.