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Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava has plenty of options if he wants to leave Vols

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Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava has plenty of options if he wants to leave Vols


So Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is, according to reports, negotiating with the Vols to stay in Knoxville for the 2025 season. 

That’s 14 weeks before the start of the college football season. 

Welcome to the wild world of player empowerment, everyone. Or in the old-school negotiating parlance: leverage.

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Unless Tennessee wants to intentionally crater its program, it will pay what Iamaleava wants. The only negative for Nico: If he doesn’t play at a high level – among the best at his position in college football – the locker room will eventually turn on him. 

Iamaleava is talented but wasn’t exactly an elite player last season. In fact, he was barely among the top half of SEC quarterbacks.

The one thing we (think) we know: If he doesn’t reach a deal with Tennessee, he can’t, by conference mandate, play in the SEC in 2025. Unless he gets an attorney and sues the SEC ― which at this point in the world of player empowerment, wouldn’t surprise anyone. 

Here are the top five landing spots for Iamaleava if he decides to leave Tennessee for more green: 

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Southern California

The road less traveled: back home to Long Beach, California. Forget about projected starter Jayden Maiava. He’s a solid player but he’s not Iamaleava. 

Iamaleava knows what USC coach Lincoln Riley did with Heisman winner Caleb Williams, and how he developed two other Heisman winners (Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray) and a Heisman finalist (Jalen Hurts) as coach of Oklahoma. 

It’s the easy move with the least amount of complications and the greatest ceiling of all. Moving back to Los Angeles County and saving the USC program.

The only drawback: Playing in the Big Ten won’t be much easier than playing in the SEC.    

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North Carolina

Let’s see how serious new Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick is about this college thing. 

His first season in Chapel Hill comes with three quarterbacks on the roster: injured journeyman Max Johnson, Purdue transfer Ryan Browne and freshman Bryce Baker. 

If Iamaleava hits the portal, Belichick should tell GM Michael Lombardi to sign him at all costs. It’s a significant step down in level of play, which would allow Iamaleava to transition quickly and put up big numbers.

Like North Carolina, a no-brainer. Liberty transfer Kaiden Salter is the projected starter, and freshman Julian Lewis the future. 

But if CU coach Deion Sanders could get Iamaleava, it would be a game-changer. Imagine the Buffaloes’ offense, so dangerous with Shedeur Sanders the last two seasons, with Iamaleava’s big arm and run threat.

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Any combination of Salter and Lewis isn’t getting Colorado to the Big 12 championship game. Iamaleava could. 

Indiana 

If Iamaleava is solely concerned about rapid improvement and the track record of a coach, he could do a lot worse than connecting with IU and coach Curt Cignetti. 

He wins. And develops quarterbacks.

Cignetti worked wonders last year with Ohio transfer Kurtis Rourke, who played five uneventful years at Ohio before a breakout season in 2024 with the Hoosiers. 

He’s now likely a late-round selection in the NFL draft and wouldn’t have been selected based on his resume from Ohio.

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Oregon

A longshot, no doubt. But if you’re Ducks coach Dan Lanning and Iamaleava hits the open market, you must have serious discussions with your offensive staff. 

Talented former five-star recruit Dante Moore transferred last year from UCLA and sat behind Dillon Gabriel. He is the projected starter, but that inevitability would be severely tested if Iamaleava were to transfer to Oregon. 

Frankly, it’s not a much of a question. You sign Iamaleava – who led his team to the College Football Playoff in his first season as a starter – and move forward with him as your starter.       

Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB.





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How to avoid traffic and beat the crowds: In-N-Out Burger opening first Tennessee locations

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How to avoid traffic and beat the crowds: In-N-Out Burger opening first Tennessee locations


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – In-N-Out Burger will open its first two Tennessee locations Wednesday morning in Antioch and Lebanon, with a third location opening Friday in Murfreesboro as the California chain expands into Middle Tennessee.

Both Wednesday locations will open at 10 a.m., with officials expecting crowds large enough to back up traffic onto I-40. The restaurants each have one drive-thru lane and about 100 seats for customers.

In-N-Out’s first Tennessee locations to open in December

Both Wednesday locations will open at 10 a.m., with officials expecting crowds large enough to back up traffic onto I-40.

Lebanon officials expect the opening to make In-N-Out a regional destination instead of just a local restaurant. People from across the state and as far away as Mississippi and Arkansas have said they’re making the drive to try a Double-Double burger and Animal Style fries.

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Sarah Haston, Lebanon Economic and Community Development Director, said the excitement has been palpable among local officials as the opening approaches.

“We are thrilled,” Haston said. “We take so much pride in being one of the first to open. This is a good time for Lebanon and we are expecting to shine through it.”

In-N-Out has purchased extra land near both locations to accommodate long lines of cars waiting in line. The Lebanon lot has space for 806 cars and includes bathrooms for people waiting.

The restaurant has hired a private traffic management company that will use large signs and personnel to direct traffic flow. In-N-Out has been working with police on traffic plans for the past four months.

“We feel like we have really put a lot of effort into it,” Haston said. “Kudos to In-N-Out and their team. They’ve really put a lot of thought into it, and they have people that are trained for this. People that are specific to opening locations.”

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The Lebanon location sits close to the I-40 interchange, raising concerns about traffic backing up onto the highway. Haston said they’ve added more turn lanes, traffic lights and other measures to mitigate the issue.

For drivers trying to avoid the congestion, Haston recommended using different entry and exit ramps for the highway and taking routes that avoid the South Hartmann Drive area.

Officials expect the busy area around the Lebanon location to remain congested for several weeks after opening. For customers willing to wait to try In-N-Out, officials suggest visiting after the initial crowds subside in a couple of weeks.



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Reporter Provides Key Information During Tennessee Vols Defensive Coordinator Search

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Reporter Provides Key Information During Tennessee Vols Defensive Coordinator Search


The Tennessee Volunteers have the chance to make some big-time moves in the month of December, as they are looking to make a decision that can impact the future of the defense in a positive way.

Former Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks, that Monday as the DC for the Vols, but he would close the day off the staff. This is due to a decision that was made by Josh Heupel and others to part ways with the long-term DC for the Vols. Fans were calling for this decision on both social media and in real life, as fans even went as far as painting the rock and putting “Fire Tim Banks” on it.

After this was made official, fans started to speculate on what’s next for the Vols with the defensive coordinator opening. They started naming options and timelines, but since then more information has been revealed by a reliable source. Here is what was said.

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Chris Low Confirms Some Details

Defensive coordinator Tim Banks coaches players during a drill during Tennessee Football s first fall practice, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. | Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
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“Would expect this one to be done pretty quickly. Vols made Banks one of the highest-paid DCs a year ago and will be willing to pay big money again,” said Chris Low.

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This is good news as fans are hopeful that the Vols will go for a quality-based choice and try their hardest to land a top defensive coordinator in college football. There have been multiple names that have been thrown around, and some are among the best in the nation. Others may have to prove a bit to the fanbase. All of the names that have been released as possible options seem to be additions outside the current staff, except for one coach who could also be promoted.

That coach is William Inge, who has been named as the interim defensive coordinator for the Tennessee Volunteers for their game against the Illinois Fighting Illini. The other question has been, “Will Josh Heupel make an addition with someone he has had ties to?”

If that’s the case, then there is a chance that the Vols shoot their shot with Ryan Walters. Walters is the current defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies and has been improving with that program. He is a former staff member who was on the opposite side of the football coaching staff from Josh Heupel. Heupel was the offensive coordinator while Walters served as a co-defensive coordinator.

Make sure to stay tuned with Vols on SI.

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Whataburger closing four Middle Tennessee restaurants. When and where

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Whataburger closing four Middle Tennessee restaurants. When and where


Whataburger has announced plans to close four of its 24 Middle Tennessee restaurants less than four years after returning to the region.

Restaurants that are closing Dec. 15 are:

  • Mt. Juliet: 11190 Lebanon Road
  • Murfreesboro: 1924 Memorial Boulevard
  • Clarksville: 791 North 2nd Street
  • Clarksville: 1602 Haynes Street

“We regularly conduct a business review of our locations to maximize opportunities for growth and keep Whataburger strong in the communities we serve. In a few cases that means closing restaurants,” according to a company statement.

The decision to close the four restaurants “helps focus our efforts where we can make the biggest impact,” the company stated.

The Mt. Juliet restaurant opened on July 9, 2024 at the southeast corner of Lebanon Road and North Mt. Juliet Road.

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Whataburger also has a restaurant on Rutland Drive in Mt. Juliet and two restaurants in neighboring Lebanon in Wilson County.

Lineberry Properties is the property landlord for the Mt. Juliet restaurant that will close.

The lease is for 15 years. Mark Lineberry of Lineberry Properties expects Whataburger’s broker to sublease the property.

Whataburger plans to continue opening new restaurants in the Nashville area that includes a location off Gallatin Avenue in Nashville in the coming months.

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Whataburger returned to the Nashville area for the first time since the 1970s with a restaurant in Hermitage in January 2022.

Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com.



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