CFB Roundup – April 13, 2025

Good morning, and welcome back to CFB Roundup from CFB Home – the first daily newsletter that’s all college football, all the time with no bias, no slant, and no fluff.

Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava No Longer with Program Over NIL Holdout

Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava is now intending to enter the transfer portal when the spring window opens after a dispute over his NIL package, which led to a holdout. Tennessee responded, in kind, by announcing it was parting ways with the former 5-star and starter from the 2024 season.

Coach Josh Heupel shared with The Vol Network radio broadcast, “at the end of the day, no one is bigger than the program. That includes me, too. We’ve got an opportunity. We’ve got a bunch of guys that will give their all for Tennessee. We move forward. Got a great group. Let’s go compete.”

Iamaleava and his camp reportedly were asking for more money after having previously renegotiated his NIL package to not enter the portal in the previous transfer window. Iamaleava was allegedly fielding offers from other programs when reports indicate he asked for more money from Tennessee. Tennessee evidently held firm with the renegotiated number from the winter portal window, and after allegedly intentionally missing practice and holding out, Tennessee had enough and has cut ties.

Billy Napier Shares that DJ Lagway Is Expected to Begin Throwing in a Couple Weeks

Coach Billy Napier revealed yesterday that he expects QB DJ Lagway to begin throwing in “a couple of weeks.” Coach Napier also shared that Lagway will be 100% healthy when OTAs begin in the summer.

Ohio State’s Ryan Day on What He’s Looking for from QBs in Spring Game

Ohio State’s Ryan Day shared what he is looking for from the QBs ahead of the spring game, where Julian Sayin, Lincoln Kienholz, and Tavien St. Clair are all looking to win the job.

“I just want to see them continue to grow and see it carry over from what we’re seeing in practice. You know, when you put them in a game like environment, you want to see how they handle everything that comes with being in a game and managing the game. [Including] taking care of the football, playing well on third down, in the red zone, and in two minute drills.”

Reportedly, the battle really comes down to Sayin and Kienholz, as Coach Day shared that St. Clair has a long way to go.

Former Memphis OL Xavier Hill Commits to Colorado

Former Memphis OL Xavier Hill announced his commitment to Colorado out of the transfer portal. Hill was First Team All-AAC this past season, his second season with Memphis. He started his career at LSU after being a 3-star recruit from the state of Mississippi.

Memphis went 11-2 this season, helped by Hill’s performance. Hill started the season at left guard, but transitioned to right tackle for most of the second half of the season. In 2023, he played 491 snaps at RT, 246 at LT, and 182 at LG.

Oklahoma CB Mykel Patterson-McDonald Planning to Enter the Portal

Oklahoma CB Mykel Patterson-McDonald announced his intention of entering the transfer portal when the spring portal window opens. Patterson-McDonald will have four years of eligibility remaining after redshirting as a true freshman this season.

Patterson-McDonald did not register any statistics in his one season with the Sooners, but was a 3-star recruit who held other SEC and Big Ten offers coming out of high school. Based on his listed height of 5’ 9.5”, he likely projects as a slot corner at his next program.

Composite 5-Star EDGE Rodney Dunham Jr. Commits to Notre Dame

Composite 5-star EDGE Rodney Dunham committed to Notre Dame this past week over offers from Georgia, Ohio State, Texas, Michigan, Alabama, and more.

For Dunham, he referenced the opportunities that going to Notre Dame could provide him both in and out of football, saying “there is only one place like Notre Dame, and it’s Notre Dame.” Dunham ranks 19th nationally and 3rd at the EDGE position according to the On3 industry composite. For Notre Dame, this is the 7th Blue Chip commitment and 9th commitment overall for a 2026 class which ranks 5th nationally.

Consensus 4-Star TE Brock Harris Commits to BYU

Consensus 4-star TE Brock Harris has decided to stay home, committing to BYU over big offers like Georgia, Oregon, Ohio State, Texas, and Michigan.

Harris shared that while he considered other schools, including Michigan, BYU was always at the top of his list due to the consistent good feeling he got from his visits. Harris ranks as high as 33rd nationally and 2nd at the TE position (ESPN). For BYU, its 2026 class now has its first Blue Chip commitment.

Consensus 4-Star QB Peyton Falzone Commits to Penn State

Consensus 4-star QB Peyton Falzone committed to Penn State yesterday over offers from Wisconsin, Iowa, Utah, and Virginia Tech.

Falzone is technically listed as an athlete but is expected to play quarterback. He decommitted from Virginia Tech back in November and had visited Penn State five times. The Nittany Lions are currently sitting at 7 Blue Chip and 10 total commitments for a recruiting class which ranks 9th nationally.

4-Star RB Jaylen McGill Commits to North Carolina

4-star RB Jaylen McGill committed to North Carolina yesterday over offers from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina. McGill was previously committed to Rutgers but decommitted in January.

McGill is rated as a 4-star by On3 and ESPN, with every recruiting service having him ranked between 19th and 24th at the RB position. For North Carolina, this is the 2nd Blue Chip commitment for the 2026 class.

3-Star OT Vlad Dyakonov Commits to USC

3-star OT Vlad Dyakonov committed to USC earlier this week over offers from Cal, Utah, and Arizona State.

Dyakonov had visited the Trojans multiple times, citing his relationship with the coaches and their plan for NFL development as key factors. Dyakonov is a 3-star according to the On3 industry composite, ranking 448th nationally. USC’s 2026 class currently sits at 22 total commitments, ranking 2nd nationally.

Other Commitments/Decommitments in Last Week

• 3-Star (89) CB Sean Johnson commits to Florida State
• 3-Star (89) EDGE Julian Hugo commits to Arizona State
• 3-Star (89) CB Peyton Dyer decommits from South Carolina
• 3-Star (88) S Kealan Jones commits to Georgia
• 3-Star (88) EDGE Kamhariyan Johnson commits to Alabama
• 3-Star (88) DL Carmelow Reed commits to Wisconsin
• 3-Star (88) CB Joshua Sims commits to Northwestern
• 3-Star (88) DL Daniel Howard commits to Iowa State
• 3-Star (87) DL Jake Johnson commits to USC
• 3-Star (87) QB Corin Berry flips from Boston College to Purdue
• 3-Star (87) RB Izaiah Wright commits to Purdue
• 3-Star (87) IOL Marques Uini commits to Arizona State
• 3-Star (87) QB Stephen Cannon commits to Texas Tech
• 3-Star (87) ATH Emory Snyder commits to West Virginia
• 3-Star (87) S Taj Powell commits to West Virginia
• 3-Star (87) WR Will Pressley commits to Miami (OH)
• 3-Star (86) QB Braylen Williams commits to Ole Miss
• 3-Star (86) WR Kai Meza commits to Minnesota
• 3-Star (86) CB Carsen Eloms commits to Wisconsin
• 3-Star (86) ATH Charlie Jilek commits to UCF
• 3-Star (86) LB Antoine Sharp commits to UCF
• 3-Star (86) S Tyrell Chatman flips from Northern Illinois to Iowa State
• 3-Star (86) WR Kei’Maurii Miles commits to North Carolina
• 3-Star (86) IOL Marek Jin commits to Boston College
• 3-Star (85) CB Josiah Vilmael commits to Oklahoma State
• 3-Star (85) IOL Jerald Mays commits to Texas Tech
• 3-Star (85) ATH Jamarion Richardson commits to Baylor
• 3-Star (85) LB Nathan Gersh commits to Toledo
• 3-Star (85) QB Brady Vodicka commits to Louisiana Tech
• 3-Star (85) OT Tucker Thieneman commits to North Dakota State
• 3-Star (84) IOL Niniva Nicholson commits to Arizona State
• 3-Star (83) TE Gabe Sema commits to Northern Arizona
• 3-Star (82) CB Martece Smith commits to Toledo
• 2027 Unrated QB DJ Hunter commits to Kentucky
• 2027 Unrated DL Eli Diane commits to Minnesota
• Unrated S Cameron Dwyer commits to West Virginia
• Unrated K David Green commits to North Carolina
• Unrated CB Deon Callins commits to South Alabama
• Unrated DL Chris Doyle commits to App State
• Unrated S Dorrian Medley commits to App State
• Unrated WR Mark Hanniford commits to Western Kentucky
• Unrated IOL Queni Ropati decommits from New Mexico State