5-star QB Nico Iamaleava is top transfer; I hope Syracuse football doesn't pursue him

This column isn't meant to direct negativity at five-star transfer quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is entering the portal after helping to lead Southeastern Conference school Tennessee, which plays Syracuse football early in the 2025 campaign, to a berth in the College Football Playoff this past term as well as a top-10 national ranking.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Iamaleava, unfortunately, has been in the news a lot of late after he parted ways with the Volunteers, amid media reports indicating there was a difference of opinions regarding his name, image and likeness funds.

So now Iamaleava, a redshirt freshman in 2024, will look for a new college squad as the spring transfer portal window will officially run from April 16 to April 25. And, presumably, Tennessee will be on the hunt for another quarterback to add depth to that position group.

The Vols and the 'Cuse, by the way, will go toe to toe on Saturday, Aug. 30, in Atlanta. It's a juicy non-conference, neutral-site encounter for head coach Fran Brown and his surging program.

Could Syracuse football actually make a run at five-star transfer QB Nico Iamaleava?

In national transfer rankings, several recruiting services place Iamaleava as the No. 1 signal-caller and the No. 1 overall prospect in the portal (or planning to enter the portal).

On Monday and Tuesday, I came across a couple of posts on X regarding Iamaleava's recruitment, and the Orange was mentioned. This doesn't mean that the 'Cuse staff is pursuing him. It also doesn't mean that Iamaleava is interested in Syracuse football.

Regardless, and I mean no disrespect here, but I hope that Orange coaches don't recruit Iamaleava. He could be a great young man. I don't know him, personally. And all the chatter out there related to his NIL deal (or deals), I don't know whether Iamaleava is to "blame," so to speak, or the blame should get directed at his family and/or others in his camp.

While Iamaleava had a solid 2024 season and clearly has talent, I don't want any sort of drama making its way onto the Hill. As far as I can tell, that's not what Brown and his top-flight staff are about; they stress high character and integrity, not holding out over NIL money.

Plus, not too long ago, Brown named Rickie Collins, a three-star transfer from fellow SEC team LSU, as the Orange's starting quarterback for the 2025 stanza, when the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Collins will be a redshirt sophomore.

I'll certainly monitor if the 'Cuse shows any level of interest in Iamaleava. And candidly, nothing completely surprises me these days, given the transfer portal's explosion. Heck, word coming out on Tuesday that All-ACC performer Trebor Pena, a rising redshirt senior wide receiver/return man, would enter the portal stunned me initially, but then I came to my senses.

There's no loyalty any more in college sports, in large part due to the portal and NIL, along with ongoing conference realignment, future revenue-sharing and other factors.

It is what it is. Still, I'd like to roll with Collins as the starting Syracuse football quarterback in 2025. And I do hope that Nico finds a terrific landing spot, too. Just not in Central New York.