McLaughlin: Dan Lanning Wise In Saying “No” To Nico Iamaleava
By SPENCER McLAUGHLIN
Contributor, 750 The Game
Allow me to wind the clock back to early June of 2022. Oregon was still seeking its QB commit for the 2023 class, examining a trio of 5-star QB recruits. Dante Moore, Jaden Rashada, and Nico Iamaleava were all on Oregon’s radar. A pair of California kids and the #1 QB in the cycle from Detroit.
Iamaleava got a reported $8 million NIL deal to be a Tennessee Volunteer. Rashada would go on to have one of the wilder recruiting careers in recent memory (he’s currently in the portal, by the way). Rashada committed to Miami, flipped to Florida, got out of his NLI and went to Arizona State. After one season at Georgia, he’s seeking a new home at the G5 level–all while trying to sort out a lawsuit against the University of Florida and HC Billy Napier.
Oregon fans likely know the Dante Moore story by now. Kenny Dillingham’s departure to Arizona State caused him to flip close to signing day to UCLA. He lasted one season in Los Angeles before moving to Oregon, where he’s in line to be the Ducks’ starter in 2025 after sitting behind veteran QB Dillon Gabriel.
That’s a lot of drama, isn’t it? The craziest chapter is unfolding in real time.
Iamaleava wanted a bigger NIL contract than the $8 million one he signed coming out of high school after leading the Vols to a Playoff berth in 2024. He threw for 19 TDs, 5 INTs, and just over 2,600 yards, guiding Tennessee to a 10-2 record and a win over Alabama. That first deal averaged $2 million per year, but his camp reportedly wanted more. Was Tennessee right to move on from the former 5-star and not cave in to pay the desired $4 million per season? You decide.
Oregon is wise to not explore this venture at all. According to ESPN, Iamaleava’s camp reached out to Oregon but was told the Ducks are not interested. Dan Lanning declined to comment on anything not related to Oregon Football in his latest press availability.
There are two primary reasons I like Lanning not sniffing around on a talented, Playoff-caliber QB like Iamaleava. First and foremost, this whole situation seems to have influences that go beyond the kid himself. Any time you have outside forces that are impacting a quarterback, it can become an uncomfortable situation to deal with if things aren’t going to plan.
Secondly, Dante Moore (or perhaps Austin Novosad) have earned the right to battle for Oregon’s starting job. I suspect it will be Dante Moore who wins the job, but crazier things have happened. Regardless, Oregon has only had proven, veteran QBs start since Dan Lanning took over in Eugene ahead of the 2022 season. Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel have played exceptional football, the best of their careers, and I would not retroactively go back and change anything about that.
The portal is a useful tool and has great QBs in it every year. The long-term trajectory of Oregon Football cannot always have a transfer starter. Lanning has to showcase that he can develop a young QB, whether it’s someone as highly recruited as Dante Moore or not.
Yes, that means this year expectations shouldn’t be as high for the 2025 Ducks as they were in 2024. Yes, that means there will be some growing pains behind center as Dante Moore has never started an entire season before. Marcus Mariota’s redshirt freshman stats in 2012 saw him complete over 68% of his passes with 32 TDs and just 6 INTs. Could Moore’s numbers rise to that level? Maybe, but I’ll have higher expectations for Dante Moore in 2026 than this Fall. Will Stein’s offense should be a good system to play in, one that has produced consecutive Heisman Trophy finalist QBs.
Dan Lanning isn’t just giving fans what they want in going away from a veteran transfer QB, he’s doing what’s in the best interest of the program.
Oregon’s Spring Game is less than two weeks away, but who’s counting?
Spencer McLaughlin is an Oregon Ducks football contributor to 750 The Game. He also hosts the “Locked On Oregon Ducks” and “Locked On College Football” podcasts and has work featured throughout the season here.