Tennessee football began its second week of spring practice on Monday as they held its fifth practice and second practice in full pads this spring.
Following the practice, redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava met with the media. The talented signal caller played in five games as a true freshman and started the Vols’ Citrus Bowl win over Iowa. Now he enters his second season in the program as the full time starter.
Iamalaeva discussed what’s different about being the starter, adding weight from his freshman season and much more. Here’s everything Iamaleava said.
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On how different it feels heading into spring practice as the full time starting QB
“Not too much. I think, like I said even for last year, I think I approached every day like I was the starter. So I think Joe (Milton) did a great job just helping me and visualize what that looks like, and I’ve carried it over to this year.”
On how early enrollee receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley are coming along
“Yeah, huge man. They’re looking good out there. I think we picked up some great receivers with that ‘24 class. But yeah, I think they’re still growing and learning plays, learning the offense, learning how fast we go with our tempo and yeah, I think they look good so far.”
On how he’s working to improve as a leader not only of the offense but of the whole team
“Yeah, still being myself. I’ve been trying to work on being more vocal for the guys, speaking out when I need to. But I think just putting myself out there, hanging out with the guys and you know, just making sure we’re getting to them, getting our business done. But yeah, I think I’m just going more on, I’d say that the vocal aspect of it just being louder for the guys is what I’ve really been trying to work on.”
On how they feel about the University fighting for their NIL rights this winter
“It felt great. All the guys behind the scenes are behind us and all the student athletes. I thought Coach Heup, you know, everybody as a whole staff has done a great job and keeping us focused on what the main goal is, is to be a student-athlete here at the university. And focused on ball and I’m glad all that’s passed us.”
On how different his body is this year, how much weight he has gained
“Weight gain, I think I’ve gotten to 215 over the spring and just really been trying to maintain that and stay at that weight. I think it’s been a huge difference in just me, the way I’ve been eating, taking care of my nutrition, just everyday habits has grown more and more for me as this years went on. And, just for me, just being consistent with that.”
On if it feels different this season as Tennessee’s starter, opposed to just approaching each day like he was the starter last season
“I won’t say it necessarily feels different. I think now just knowing I’m the starter, a lot of guys depend on me. A lot of guys depend on me, but I think I get the job done. So really just like I said, approaching every day with the same mindset.”
On weighing 215 and how much he enjoys eating at this point after trying to put on so much weight
“Yeah, the day I showed up, man, I probably weighed around 190. I was like, kind of like my senior year, so I’ve come a long way, just staying consistent with that.
“(Eating has) gotten easier, I’d say, and eat eating more meals a day. So yeah, sometimes I enjoy it, sometimes I don’t. But I got to get there.”
On working with Joey Halzle on body position when throwing and breaking old habits
“Yeah, a little bit. I’d say like going back to my senior year, I used to make a lot of off-platform throws. And I think Coach Joey’s main thing was me being consistent with making all those drills every time. So I want to say it has been different. I think just having everything in my tool bag, still working on everything and yeah, Coach Joey’s definitely played a big part in me staying level when I’m throwing the ball. Just I’m more accurate on every throw and don’t have to depend on different arm angles like that to complete a ball.”
On Tennessee using communication inside helmets this spring
“Yeah, we’ve been working with it these past few practices and, yeah, I like it. I like Coach Joey in my ear pre-snap. And it’s fun. It’s been fun so far and I think it’s huge for a lot of the quarterbacks.”
On what he learned from breaking down film of Tennessee’s win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl
“Definitely, man. I missed a couple shot plays out there that I could’ve seen better. And yeah, I really just evaluated myself. I think a lot of things I could’ve done better out there and we probably could have scored a couple more points that I missed. But yeah, I’ve definitely taken that into this year and just the way I I prepare and everything.”
On the praise he received after the bowl win and at what point he flipped the page on the bowl game and started focusing on Tennessee’s 2024 season
“After the game I probably took a week off and then I was back to work. Really trying not to pay attention too much to stuff like that. I know what I came here to do and it’s my job to get that done.”
