In his first year as the program’s starting QB, Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards and accounted for 22 touchdowns. While his game-to-game performance was often up and down, he led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff.

There's a simple way to describe the complicated current state of affairs in college athlete compensation, most recently highlighted by the Nico Iamaleava saga that led to him leaving Tennessee over a gone-public NIL renegotiation days before the spring transfer portal window opens .

Iamaleava’s name will go down in college football history as one that created a turning point for players, in multiple ways.