East Tennessee pastor rescued from kidnapping ‘upset’ to learn of Nico Iamaleava transfer
Josh Sullivan, the East Tennessee pastor who was rescued from a kidnapping in South Africa during a shootout on Tuesday night, was upset to hear the news of Nico Iamaleava’s departure from the Tennessee Football program.
Sullivan was abducted by gunmen while preaching a sermon late last week and was rescued after being held in a house 20 minutes from his Baptist church.
Fellowship Baptist Church pastor Tom Hatley told WVLT that one of the first reports he heard from South Africa after the rescue was that Sullivan was “upset over Nico.”
Hatley told WVLT that those around Sullivan were asked “to talk about more lighthearted things” after he was safely rescued. That’s when Iamaleava’s transfer came up.
“And they said, well, you know, Nico left, didn’t you?” Hatley told WVLT. “And his wife told me last night that the biggest conversation they’ve had has been about Nico. Hey, the boy was raised in East Tennessee, what can I tell you?”
Nico Iamaleava entered NCAA Transfer Portal on Wednesday
Sullivan, a Maryville native described as a lifelong Tennessee fan, was rescued safely despite a shootout that killed three of the suspects in the abduction. He has been in South Africa with his wife and two children since 2018.
He was taken hostage while preaching Thursday night.
It was reported by On3’s Pete Nakos on Thursday afternoon that Iamaleava was in contract negotiations for a new NIL deal, with Iamaleava believed to be looking for a deal worth $4 million.
Iamaleava entered the NCAA Transfer Portal with a “do not contact” tag when the portal opened on Wednesday morning and it was reported Wednesday afternoon that the Long Beach, Calif., native, was headed to UCLA.
Josh Heupel: ‘We’ll have a quarterback that’s ready to go win’
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel publicly moved on from his quarterback on Saturday, after Iamaleava skipped practice Friday morning and was not in contact through the day on Friday.
“If Josh Heupel is listening to me or the athletic director, Danny White,” Hatley told WVLT, “let’s get this man in to see the team, let’s let him run through the T, let’s do something because he deserves it.”
Iamaleava threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in 13 games last season, his only season as Tennessee’s staring quarterback.
After moving on from Iamaleava, Tennessee now turns to redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman George MacIntyre. The Vols will also be active in the portal looking for a third quarterback to add to the roster.
“This program is ready to go win next fall,” Heupel said after Tennessee’s Orange & White Game on Saturday afternoon at Neyland Stadium. “ … We’ll have a quarterback that’s ready to go win and help us compete for a championship.”
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