Greg McElroy compares Nico Iamaleava’s money situation to Isaiah Bond

The fallout between quarterback Nico Iamaleava and the Tennessee Volunteers ended up happening in the public and largely over NIL. It’s not the first time that kind of falling out has occurred and it likely won’t be the last. However, it is one that appears to have cost him money in the long run.

Analyst Greg McElroy compared the situation to that of former Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond on Always College Football. Transferring to try and get more money immediately might work in the short run, but it could potentially cost a player money in the long run.

Bond made a historic catch in the Iron Bowl, building a legacy there. However, that was lost when he chose to transfer out of the program. Essentially, there’s long-term money and benefits that come from the play and being a legendary player in a program. However, transferring makes it much more difficult to capitalize throughout your life in exchange for money made in the short term. That’s a difficult to quantify amount of lost money.

“That catch has been immortalized by Alabama fans and in many by art,” Greg McElroy said. “People are drawing paintings of it. People are profiting off of that. You know who’s not profiting off of that? Isaiah Bond. Because Isaiah Bond after the fact went from an Alabama legend, where he’d never have to pay for another drink in Tuscaloosa the rest of his life, and probably would have had many opportunities to potentially make money because of having participated in that play. Instead, he leaves to go to Texas the following year and now Alabama wants nothing to do with him. That’s how much money was potentially left on the table.

“Yeah, you can’t measure it. You can’t put a price tag on it right now, but yes, maybe $1 million was lost by Isaiah Bond or $1 million was lost by Nico Iamaleava or gained — in Isaiah Bond’s case, he made more at Texas than he would have at Alabama, but because he left Alabama he now no longer has earning potential in Tuscaloosa.”

Nico Iamaleava was reportedly making $2.2 to $2.5 million annually from NIL at Tennessee. That number is already reportedly set to decrease at UCLA, though will still be better than $1.5 million. Beyond that, however, McElroy is concerned that had Iamaleava made himself a program legend at Tennessee, there would be more long-term value. That’s not something he believes is as possible or as lucrative at UCLA.

“What kind of money was left on the table by Nico Iamaleava? Had he gone out, had an incredible year this upcoming year, made the Playoff, made it to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist, and graduate as an all-time great Tennessee quarterback, what would that contract have actually been worth? There’s no telling, but I would imagine it’s significantly more than what could be earned at UCLA… People are walking away from good situations where they could have a lifetime of earnings from one specific school, in favor of the hey, I gotta get mine today,” McElroy said. “And, ultimately, that’s a very short-sighted viewpoint, especially when taking into account what Nico could have been or what Isaiah Bond could have been or what several other players could have been for their school had they just stayed put for a little while longer.”

In the end, Nico Iamaleava was negotiating for himself and Tennessee on its own behalf. They weren’t able to come to a deal and he was forced to find one elsewhere. It’s part of the modern system of college athletics, even if it does change how many fans view their connection to players.