At the Orange and White spring game, Tennessee’s quarterbacks, Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre, received loud cheers from the fans. This was a show of defiance and unity from the fans inside the Neyland Stadium after they were left high and dry by the unceremonious departure of Nico Iamaleava.  Head coach Josh Heupel made the sentiment clear before the spring game, saying, “No one is ever bigger than the program.” But Heupel was also keeping things real and underlined the Vols’ need to land a premier QB. “We’ll have a quarterback that’s ready to go win and help us compete for a championship,” he said after the game. So does he have a plan to achieve this?

Well, Tennessee fans don’t need to panic. Heupel has coached two Heisman-winning quarterbacks, Jason White and Sam Bradford, at Oklahoma, and Tennessee could be in the playoffs again if they end up with a big-name QB. But what are their options? Well, for one, Notre Dame’s Steve Angeli is in the portal. And he’s bringing experience, poise, and two full years of eligibility with him.

Angeli was in the thick of the Irish’s spring QB battle, but insiders say he trailed behind CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. Still, he’s no stranger to the spotlight. He backed up Riley Leonard during Notre Dame’s run to the national title game in 2024. So, while ND HC Marcus Freeman hoped to narrow the QB race to two by fall camp, Steve Angeli might just find a brighter spotlight somewhere else, and Knoxville might be the place to watch out for.

On the April 18 episode of On3, J.D. Pickell assessed how Heupel and Tennessee are viewing the transfer portal now that a name like Angeli is in the mix. “If you’re a Tennessee fan, you see him jump in and immediately everybody across all Twitter is saying, ‘Hey, is it Steve Angeli? He’d be a great fit, need to be the right guy,’ right? ‘Not—not so fast, my friend,’ is all I would say there,” stated Pickell. So, the hype is heating up, but don’t crown Angeli just yet. It is far from a given that Heupel will pursue Angeli.

“Tennessee is going to take their time with this,” said Pickell, adding, “We asked Pete Nakos about that on this very show when the portal opened up, and he said, ‘They’re not in a rush, they’re going to take their time.’ We asked Pete if they would take two transfer portal quarterbacks. Said, ‘I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past them. I think—I think it’s—I think anything’s on the table here.'” Simply put, Tennessee is keeping all options open. They’re watching the board. Calculating their next move. And when the time is right, they’ll strike. So, what’s the reason for Tennessee’s calm? Simple—power.

They had no problem bringing in Nico Iamaleava on a reported $2 million per year deal in 2022. But when he overplayed his hand, wanting a reported $4 million deal, the program was not going to bend. They are in a position to make a strong offer to any of their targets they desire.

“Money isn’t a big deal for Tennessee—I mean, it’s a big deal, but not in the big deal in the sense where they couldn’t have paid Nico Iamaleava if they had really wanted to. Like, they’re able to pay a big bag if it comes down to that. That’s not what it’s about, though,” Pickell explained. So, this is bigger than NIL. It’s about fit, system, and momentum.

With Iamaleava leading the charge last season, the Vols made the CFB playoff. They would have likely done the same had he stayed, but not replacing him means their playoff hopes will be in trouble for this season. Heupel has made it clear that they need someone who can help them challenge at the top end again. Is Angeli that guy?

He’s in the mix, but Tennessee’s not rushing. “Will Angeli factor into the evaluation process? It’d be crazy to say he won’t,” said PicKell. But is it a done deal? Is Steve Angeli automatically the guy for Tennessee? “I don’t think that’s the case,” added PicKell. For now, Heupel is happy to wait and see where pieces fall with the portal in full swing. But the waiting game could hurt them as well.

Last season, Angeli tossed for 268 yards and three touchdowns for the Fighting Irish. But his highlight came in the Sun Bowl in 2023. Angeli threw for 232 yards and three scores to power Notre Dame to a dominant win over Oregon State. He has the poise and experience that could make life easier for Heupel, and it is hard to imagine there are not other programs in pursuit of him.

The fans might be expecting to sign a marquee quarterback, but the transfer portal is short on star power at the moment. One name that’s surfaced is Gio Lopez, but he’s widely expected to commit to UNC, leaving the Vols with slim pickings in their QB search.

Speaking after the spring game, Heupel said, “You’re trying to get your roster where it needs to be to give yourself the best chance when you get to kick off in the fall. And certainly with only two scholarship players at the quarterback position, we’re going to have to find another guy.” The problem is, Heupel doesn’t need any guy; he needs a game changer, someone who can replicate what Iamaleava delivered last season and and he may be running out of time.

But while Tennessee tries to find its QB1 fix in Angeli, what does his departure mean for Notre Dame?

Fallout in South Bend: The impact of Steve Angeli’s move

Steve Angeli is out. The message from South Bend? It’s time to go young. With Angeli hitting the portal, Notre Dame’s quarterback future just got a whole lot clearer—and a whole lot less experienced. So, the battle now comes down to CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. Whoever wins the job will make their first college start in 2025. On the road. Against Miami. Simply put, no warm-up, no easing in, just bright lights and big stakes.

Right now, this is a defining move for Marcus Freeman. No longer the new guy—he’s stepping into year four with confidence and control.

Look, this move isn’t just about faith in Minchey or Carr. It’s about the whole squad. The staff is betting big—not just on their young QBs, but on the team around them. Moreover, Notre Dame believes in its foundation. A tough defense. Reliable running backs. A battle-tested O-line. And a revamped group of receivers is ready to shine. But rookie mistakes? They’ll happen. However, the Irish believe the rest of the roster is strong enough to weather the storm—and still win big.

Here, Marcus Freeman could’ve played it safe. Roll with the vet. Let Steve Angeli lead the charge in 2025. But he didn’t. Instead, Freeman is betting on upside. He’s trusting raw talent over experience. In year four—his most pivotal season yet—that’s a bold move. However, it shows just how much belief the staff has in CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey.