There’s a lot of confidence in the Tennessee program regarding quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
That’s easy to say with less than a week to go until the start of the season. Iamaleava’s teammates and coaches have raved about how tuned up he is heading into his first season as the Vols’ starting signal caller.
“I think when we start talking about Nico, he just has such a strong command, from my perspective, of the offense,” Tennessee DC Tim Banks said on Friday. “He can throw it with the best of him, but if I’m being honest just his sheer size, sometimes I forget how big he is until I get up on him.”
Iamaleava spent his freshman season as Joe Milton’s backup in 2023, drawing some late-game playing time in a handful of regular-season games. Milton opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft, opening up the starting job for Iamaeava in the final game of the season. Iamaleava did well running the offense in his first start but, most importantly, showed that Tennessee absolutely had their guy for the future.
As Iamaleava prepares for his first season as Tennessee’s starter, head coach Josh Heupel revealed some of the things he wants to see from his second-year quarterback on Saturday against Chattanooga.
“Play smart football, take care of the football,” Heupel said on Monday. “Manage the game extremely well. Communication, play within yourself. At times, when they present themselves, make plays. He’s had the opportunity to start the bowl game. I think that was a great experience. Helps propel, create urgency here in the offseason.”
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While Nico Iamaleava is preparing for just his second start at Tennessee, he’s not a newcomer to the program by any stretch. Just ask veteran offensive lineman Javontez Spraggins.
“He’s been with us already so he already knows the program and knows what to expect,” Spraggins said of his young quarterback. “So just having that trust in the guy and knowing that he’s going to get the job done, especially with veterans around him, that gives you that extra security.”
The buzz around Iamaleava’s first starting season in college football has been widespread this offseason.
FanDuel has Iamaleava with the fifth-highest Heisman Trophy odds as of this publication, while the Vols quarterback has also been tagged as a preseason Maxwell Award Watch List selection and ESPN’s No. 1 breakout player from a summer preview.
“He’s handled himself extremely well here during the course training camp, too,” Heupel said on Monday. “Young quarterback. He’s going to get better as we go through the season. I say that, just meaning that every rep you get at that position on game day helps you as well.”
Iamaleava and No. 15 Tennessee will host Chattanooga at 12:45 p.m. ET this Saturday afternoon in Neyland Stadium.
