Oregon football head coach Dan Lanning has no problem undermining the college football recruiting process by flipping players who have been committed to programs for years or by being a pirate in the transfer portal.
By Jan. 19, he landed nine players in the transfer portal for the upcoming season.
But Lanning appears to be willing to burn players who look to seek more money in the transfer portal (who he doesn’t want himself). The fourth-year head coach of the Ducks was rumored to be the person who tipped off Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel that quarterback Nico Iamaleava was sniffing around for transfer offers this spring.
On Saturday, the Volunteers revealed they planned to release Iamaleava after he sought $4 million in NIL funding. He was set to receive $2.4 million in 2025 after leading the Vols to the first round of the College Football Playoff in 2024, his redshirt freshman season.
Oregon football head coach Dan Lanning didn’t want to answer
For good reason, Lanning recently sidestepped questions about his role in informing Tennessee that Iamaleava was interested in joining the Ducks. Fans on social media thought that would have meant Lanning “snitched” on the potential recruit.
Such an action might mean high school and transfer recruits would shy away from an untrustworthy Lanning.
Lanning reportedly tipped off Tennessee coach Josh Heupel
Per Ryan Roberts of AtoZ Sports, Lanning was the person who revealed to Heupel that Iamaleava’s representation was looking for landing spots this spring.
“According to multiple sources, the duo of Nic Iamaleava and their agent were already shopping around to generate interest for Nico. Oregon was amongst the schools they contacted, but that was where things started backfiring for the Iamaleava camp,” Roberts wrote.
“Oregon head coach Dan Lanning reached out to Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel regarding them reaching out directly. As you can imagine, that wasn’t well received. The fracturing began, and this was the start of even more lies and deceptions to follow.”
Four other programs didn’t snitch
Oregon wasn’t the only program that Iamaleava’s representation contacted. At least four other schools were in the picture.
“Some of the other schools that were reached out to in the winter window were Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, and Texas Tech,” Roberts wrote. “The Fighting Irish, like Oregon, were not interested. Making the move for both USC and UCLA didn’t make much sense at the time. Texas Tech at least listened, but also didn’t make a move.”
The other four head coaches were smart not to let Heupel know Iamaleava’s representation reached out to them. They like recruiting players and hitting the transfer portal.
Texas Tech was praised for landing 17 recruits in the transfer portal this winter. The Red Raiders, who are living by the transfer portal, don’t want to be slapped with the reputation of being a snitch.
Lanning took the risk for whatever reason, and it seems Tennessee sources responded to the deed by burning him.
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