The Tennessee Volunteers football program is poised to showcase a standout quarterback in 2024, with Nico Iamaleva as the starting quarterback. Last season, Tennessee completed 9-4 overall and 4-4 in conference play.
This season, the offence will showcase their ace quarterback. Iamaleava was Tennessee’s backup quarterback last season. This season, he will be the starting quarterback and has the opportunity to build a name for himself. During the 2023 season, he saw brief action for the Vols.
He completed 62.2% of his passes, totaling 314 yards and two touchdowns. Nico Iamaleava played in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes because quarterback Joe Milton chose to forego the game and focus on the NFL Draft instead. The Tennessee Volunteers defeated Iowa 35-0.
As a college recruit, he was ranked fourth among quarterbacks in the 2023 class and 24th overall on the ESPN 300. It was the highest-ranked recruit received by Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel throughout his tenure.
Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava might be a top pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Iamaleava is only getting set for his sophomore season with the Volunteers, but some individuals, notably Shane Hallam of draft countdown, are already hyping him up as the first choice in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s still two years away, and a lot may happen in the meantime.
He was a five-star recruit out of high school, and Iamaleava might be a future standout for the Volunteers. It is possible that he will be the unanimous top pick in that class. Other names to keep an eye out for in 2026 are Dante Moore from Oregon and Arch Manning from Texas. Manning is now supporting Ewers for the Longhorns this season.
Nico Iamaleava, along with Georgia’s Carson Beck, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, could be considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in the SEC Conference this season. Having a star quarterback in this offence could contribute significantly to the Volunteers’ long-term success.
He might be the quarterback who leads the Tennessee Volunteers to the college football playoffs this year or next, depending on how the dominoes fall in the SEC Conference. Iamaleava will be the Volunteers’ full-time starter after serving as their backup quarterback last season. The offence is trying to take off following a mediocre quarterback performance under head coach Josh Heupel.
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