It didn’t take long. Tennessee’s former starting QB, Nico Iamaleava, is already eyeing a fresh start—possibly at UCLA. Just days after entering the transfer portal over an NIL dispute, the Southern California native could be heading home. However, the QB, who played high school ball in Downey and Long Beach, originally signed with the Vols on an $8 million deal for 4 years. Big expectations. And he lived up to the hype—2,616 passing yards, 19 TDs, a 10-3 record, and a CFP appearance in 2024. But something changed. He missed practice last week, and then came the portal. Now, reports are swirling that UCLA may be his next stop. Following that, Josh Heupel said, “It’s the state of college football. At the end of the day, no one is ever bigger than the program. That includes me too.” And now, a new chapter may be on the horizon for the Vols…
Yeah, don’t panic, Tennessee fans. Your starter may be gone, but there’s a new name on the radar. Notre Dame’s Steve Angeli is in the portal. And he’s bringing experience, poise, and two full years of eligibility with him. Angeli was in the thick of the Irish’s spring QB battle, but insiders say he trailed behind CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. Still, he’s no stranger to the spotlight. Well, he backed up Riley Leonard during Notre Dame’s run to the national title game in 2024. On top of that, he saw action in 11 games, went 24-for-36, threw for 268 yards. Quiet, maybe—but proven, definitely. The real question now—where does he land next? Honestly, keep an eye on Knoxville.
On the April 18 episode of On3, J.D. PicKell dropped a headline-making nugget. Notre Dame QB Steve Angeli is on the move. And the buzz? It’s real. “Now he [Angeli] will have his, I think, fair amount of suitors in the transfer portal. We’ll see what that lineup looks like for him as this thing progresses,” said PicKell. So, while ND HC Marcus Freeman hoped to narrow the QB race to two by fall camp, Steve Angeli might just find a brighter spotlight somewhere else.
Then came the twist. Tennessee fans lit up Twitter the moment Angeli’s name hit the portal. “But, if you’re a Tennessee fan, you see him jump in and immediately everybody across all Twitter is saying, ‘Hey, is it Steve Angeli? He’d be a great fit, need to be the right guy,’ right? ‘Not—not so fast, my friend,’ is all I would say there,” stated PicKell. So, the hype is heating up, but don’t crown Angeli just yet.
And now, Josh Heupel’s transfer portal playbook is in motion. No panic. No pressure. Just patience. Yes, “Tennessee is going to take their time with this,” said PicKell. Adding, “We asked Pete Nakos about that on this very show when the portal opened up, and he said, ‘They’re not in a rush, they’re going to take their time.’ We asked Pete if they would take two transfer portal quarterbacks. Said, ‘I don’t know, but I wouldn’t put it past them. I think—I think it’s—I think anything’s on the table here.’” Simply put, Tennessee is keeping all options open. They’re watching the board. Calculating their next move. And when the time is right, they’ll strike.
So, what’s the reason for Tennessee’s calm? Simple—power. “I think Tennessee knows the amount of cards they’re playing with here,” said PicKell. However, Money? Not a problem. As the national reporter put it bluntly stating, “Money isn’t a big deal for Tennessee—I mean, it’s a big deal, but not in the big deal in the sense where they couldn’t have paid Nico Iamaleava if they had really wanted to. Like, they’re able to pay a big bag if it comes down to that. That’s not what it’s about, though.” So, this is bigger than NIL. It’s about fit, system and momentum.
Look, “They understand the offense, playing for Josh Heupel, being in the SEC, Tennessee being off a College Football Playoff run a season ago—like, or making it to the College Football Playoff, I should say. They understand what they’re working with here,” said PicKell.
To be honest, Tennessee’s not desperate. They’re deliberate. And they’re dangerous because of it. You can say, Tennessee is the homecoming king right now. They’ve got the power, and they know it. They get to play the field, watch who’s breaking up with who, and wait for the perfect fit. Then, maybe just weeks—or days—before the big day, they say, “We pick you,” according to the national reporter. After all, when you’re holding all the cards, you can afford to take your time.
But as for Steve Angeli? He’s in the mix, but Tennessee’s not rushing. “Will Angeli factor into the evaluation process? It’d be crazy to say he won’t,” said PicKell. But is it a done deal? Is Steve Angeli automatically the guy for Tennessee? Is he the clear QB1 for Knoxville in game one next season? “I don’t think that’s the case,” added PicKell. So, Tennessee’s taking their time, and the stakes are high.
But while Tennessee tries to find its QB1 fix in Angeli, what does it mean for Notre Dame?
Fallout in South Bend: The impact of Steve Angeli’s move
Steve Angeli is out. The message from South Bend? It’s time to go young. With Angeli hitting the portal, Notre Dame’s quarterback future just got a whole lot clearer—and a whole lot less experienced. So, the battle now comes down to CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. Whoever wins the job will make their first college start in 2025. On the road. Against Miami. Simply put, no warm-up, no easing in, just bright lights and big stakes.
Right now, this is a defining move for Marcus Freeman. No longer the new guy—he’s stepping into year four with confidence and control. While the training wheels are off, this QB decision? It speaks volumes, it’s calculated. And it tells us exactly where the Irish are headed. Let’s break down what this choice really means for Notre Dame.
Look, this move isn’t just about faith in Minchey or Carr. It’s about the whole squad. The staff is betting big—not just on their young QBs, but on the team around them. Moreover, Notre Dame believes in its foundation. A tough defense. Reliable running backs. A battle-tested O-line. And a revamped group of receivers is ready to shine. But rookie mistakes? They’ll happen. However, the Irish believe the rest of the roster is strong enough to weather the storm—and still win big.
Here, Marcus Freeman could’ve played it safe. Roll with the vet. Let Steve Angeli lead the charge in 2025. But he didn’t. Instead, Freeman is betting on upside. He’s trusting raw talent over experience. In year four—his most pivotal season yet—that’s a bold move. However, it shows just how much belief the staff has in CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey. So, they’re not just looking for a game manager. They’re aiming for greatness
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