The transfer portal drama is heating up! Remember when Nico Iamaleava, that five-star quarterback, spurned USC for Tennessee? He talked about feeling like family with the program, even though he had offers from top schools like USC, Alabama, and others. Now, whispers are swirling about his future in the Knoxville family. Well, it’s not just Tennessee buzzing with transfer portal changes, though. Lincoln Riley’s USC is also in the mix, and the thought of a quarterback who threw more than 10,000 yards joining the Trojans is making waves.

The current FCS player of the year, South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski, has logged into the transfer portal, according to the most recent Trojan Blade video. Now, you might be worried about where Mark Gronowski will land. According to the Trojan Blade video, “If you’re Mark and you know you’re going to get drafted and you have one more year left to college football, what better place is there to improve your stock than Lincoln Riley and USC?” stated Tim Prangley. He claims that with these rushing game weapons from Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, Mark is an excellent match in the Big 10.

Additionally, the fact that Mark and Luke Huard, USC’s QB coach, are following each other on social media is definitely interesting. If Lincoln Riley is looking to add another quarterback to the mix, Mark could be a great fit. He’s still got a lot of football left in him and brings a ton of experience to the table. And it would be comparable to the circumstances with Patrick Mahomes and Alex Smith of Kansas City. But does Mark Gronowski have what it takes to lead the Trojans?

Gronowski led the Jackrabbits to a semifinal this autumn and national championships in 2022 and 2023. Gronowski won almost every national award during the 2023 season, including FCS’s version of the Heisman Trophy and the prized Walter Payton Award. This year, he is once again a finalist for this.

Moreover, he completed 60.9 % of his throws this season, including 23 TDs and 2,721 yards. In the spring of 2021, he led the team to a championship berth as a true freshman in 2020–21, but he was sidelined by an injury that prevented him from playing in the fall of that year. His record as the QB1 for the Jackrabbits was 49-6. His footwork reminds a lot of Caleb Williams, and his arm is way stronger than Miller Moss.

Top Comment by Bleeintn

Lol. No, just no. Nico isn’t going to transfer, Boo Carter is staying and while Squirrel White is a fan...more

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But imagine Nico Iamaleava joining the quarterback mix, potentially eyeing the spot of Williams and Miller in USC. Well, there’s been a lot of buzz about Nico possibly entering the transfer portal. So is he still with the Vols? And are those USC rumors true? It’s been a bit of a wild ride trying to figure it all out.

Is Nico Iamaleava sticking with the Vols?

The Tennessee transfer portal buzz has been crazy lately! It all started when Dylan Sampson announced he was leaving for the NFL. But that was just the beginning. Rumors swirled about Boo Carter possibly transferring, and then WR Squirrel White surprised everyone with his decision to leave as well.

White is now the 5th WR from the Vols to look for playing opportunities elsewhere this offseason after entering the transfer portal. Nico Iamaleava, the QB of Vols, is well aware of this. Is he upset about something? We’re not sure, but his cryptic comment seemed to suggest that he was thinking of using the transfer gateway.

Nico initially uploaded a photo that included the emoji for a contemplating expression, but he later took it off. Shortly later, he shared the identical image, except this time he included the woozy face emoji. It sounds like Nico Iamaleava is surprised by how many players are leaving Tennessee. Losing so many of his offensive teammates can’t be easy. Now the question is: Is the star QB staying with the Vols?

The host of the Trojan Blade podcast believes Lincoln Riley will definitely try to recruit Nico Iamaleava. He said, “This is a guy, no doubt, I could see Lincoln taking a swing on.” Now, Trojan fans are comparing Nico to other quarterbacks like Jayden Maiava or Miller Moss. But when it comes to sheer physical talent, Nico can surpass them both. He stands 6’6″ and weighs 215 lbs. He is a natural, dynamic athlete who covers a lot of territory and is a serious running threat.

Now Vols fans can breathe easy. Iamaleava’s staying put. In fact, his dad even tweeted that his son would be back on the field for Tennessee this fall, right after the transfer window closed. Guess we’ll have to wait and see how things play out for the Vols quarterback next season.