One option off the board.
Following the abrupt exit of Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee is suddenly in the market to a quarterback out of the transfer portal. The only problem is, well, there are virtually no options already in the portal. This means Tennessee will have to go the tampering route, dangling a bag of cash and a starting job in the SEC out there for someone to grab.
That someone will not be TCU quarterback Josh Hoover. On3’s Pete Nakos reports that Hoover will stay at TCU after many connected the Horned Frog to Tennessee over the last 72 hours.
NEW: TCU QB Josh Hoover will NOT enter the Transfer Portal amidst rumors of being a possible target for Tennessee, @PeteNakos_ reports https://t.co/Lh49ugX3R6 pic.twitter.com/M0869ryVaM
— On3 (@On3sports) April 16, 2025
Hoover threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season for TCU, tossing 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. The rising junior will remain in the Big 12 as one of the top returning passers in the conference.
Tennessee is currently left with former four-star prospects Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre on the roster. Neither player has any significant experience at the college level, and MacIntyre just finished up his first spring with the program.
Iamaleava officially entered the portal on Wednesday morning with a non-contact tag. UCLA continues to be the only school generating any buzz to this point, although it sounds like Iamaleava will take a significant pay cut should he land with the Bruins.
With no names officially in the portal and Tennessee working behind the scenes here, it’s tough to run down any rumors. We’ll pass along anything we see over the next several days.