Two weeks have passed since redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava and Tennessee’s football program went their separate ways.
The Volunteers have moved on with redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger, early enrollee George MacIntyre and UCLA transfer Joey Aguilar, while Iamaleava is now at UCLA. The whole situation can still seem surreal to Tennessee players such as sophomore defensive back Boo Carter.
“It was really shocking that he left,” Carter said Friday afternoon. “He left his brothers behind, but this may be a better opportunity for him at the same time. You’ve got to go with your gut, but I feel like he should have stayed and at least talked with the coaches.
“We didn’t know what was going on when he didn’t show up for practice that day.”
Carter starred at Chattanooga Christian and Bradley Central before signing with Tennessee, and he worked this spring at defensive back, slot receiver and punt returner. He was a guest of WGOW’s “Sport Talk,” which broadcast Friday from the Cleveland branch of the Warren & Griffin law firm.