Nico Iamaleava’s departure from Tennessee has continued to linger in the minds of Volunteers fans, even months after he made the move to UCLA. The quarterback was a major figure in Tennessee’s offense, and his leadership was the key reason the Vols had some of their most exciting seasons in recent memory. His decision to leave didn’t sit well with a portion of the fanbase, especially given the high expectations surrounding him and the program.

The move came amid reports of a dispute over his NIL deal, with Iamaleava reportedly seeking an increase from his $2.4 million annual agreement to $4 million, a request that Tennessee declined. However, Iamaleava has been keeping busy at UCLA’s fall camp, sharing glimpses of his training on Instagram. Recently, he shared a series of pictures from camp, keeping everyone updated on his new chapter.

The last picture in the series, captioned “even if they hate, love ’em,” sparked a flood of reactions, many of them less than friendly. This post was met with a barrage of trolling comments from Tennessee fans, many of whom expressed their displeasure with his decision to leave the program. He’s a default target in any controversy, regardless of his intention and has already faced significant backlash on social media before the season has even begun. The reactions will likely intense once he takes the field in a UCLA jersey

And that’s not the first time. He has been trolled a lot ever since he moved to UCLA from Tennessee. In response to the backlash, Nico Iamaleava shared a heartfelt message on Sunday. The QB took it to his Instagram and, with five quiet words that carried the weight of a farewell, showed his 203k followers what Tennessee meant to him: “gon[na] miss my real ones,” accompanied by a throwback highlight reel from his time at Tennessee.

The reel featured memorable moments, including his interactions with head coach Josh Heupel and teammates, culminating in a clip of him celebrating a victory over Alabama. Despite the emotional tribute, the damage control seemed to have little effect on the fans’ sentiments, with many continuing to voice their criticisms online.

Volunteers fans unleash their frustration on Nico Iamaleava

The Tennessee fanbase didn’t hold back after seeing Nico’s posts from UCLA. One of the first comments to gain traction was “5-7 loading,” a sharp jab at how some fans feel his move has set him up for mediocrity rather than the high-level play they expected at Tennessee. While one user went below the belt and commented, “Made a big mistake leaving The Vols 😂,” reflecting how the fans thought his departure was a misstep.

A more critical take came from fans pointing to financial motives: “Sold out for the cash. Got less and is on a worse team. Now it’s about being home. lol.” The comment underscores the perception that Nico prioritized NIL opportunities over competitive advantage, leaving fans frustrated with the way things shook out. Others questioned his choices on the field and in handling pressure, with statements like “You gave up so much, man. SEC to 500 fans. What were you thinking?” and “He lowered the bar so he didn’t have to fight the pressure!!!” These remarks clearly show that some fans feel he walked away from both challenge and opportunity.

Even with Nico trying to make peace, the boos, gifs, and nonstop comments show the Volunteers’ fans aren’t letting this go anytime soon. Honestly, it’s clear some of them are still holding a grudge over his departure. But you’ve got to give Nico credit, he’s handling all the trolling like a pro, keeping his cool and staying focused. At the end of the day, he knows the bigger picture is the season ahead, and he’s clearly keeping his eyes on the prize.