As Nico Iamaleava makes first home start, how Tennessee QBs fared including Peyton Manning

Nico Iamaleava will enter Neyland Stadium as the Tennessee football starting quarterback for the first time Saturday.

The heralded redshirt freshman is making his first home start when the No. 15 Vols open the season against Chattanooga on Saturday (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network). Iamaleava started in UT's 35-0 win in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa to cap the 2023 season after playing limited snaps in four home games as a backup.

From Hendon Hooker to Heath Shuler, here's how the seven winningest quarterbacks since 1990 performed in their first home start:

Hendon Hooker

Hooker was the backup to Joe Milton entering the 2021 season after the pair transferring in prior to coach Josh Heupel's first season. He moved into the QB1 spot after Milton suffered a Week 2 injury against Pittsburgh.

Hooker was 17-for-25 passing with three touchdowns in his starting debut in a 56-0 win against Tennessee Tech on Sept. 18, 2021. He had a rushing touchdown, gaining 64 yards rushing on nine attempts.

The dynamic transfer from Virginia Tech became a Tennessee legend in the following season-and-a-half. His 2022 season was legendary.

Josh Dobbs

Dobbs opened the 2013 season as the third-stringer but moved into the starting spot in the back half of the season. The freshman's starting debut came on the road at Missouri. His home debut was a week later against No. 7 Auburn.

It was rocky and Tennessee lost 55-23 on Nov. 9, 2013. Dobbs completed 16 of 25 passes for 128 yards with an interception. He rushed 10 times for 50 yards.

Dobbs posted massive numbers through the following three seasons, leading UT to back-to-back nine-win seasons.

Erik Ainge

Ainge battled with fellow freshman quarterback Brent Schaeffer for the starting job in 2004. He split quarterback duties with Schaeffer until he became the starter in the fourth game. He was 17-for-35 passing for 173 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions in a 34-10 loss to No. 8 Auburn on Oct. 2, 2004.

Ainge and the Vols rebounded from the loss to win the SEC East, winning seven straight conference games.

Casey Clausen

Clausen was appointed the starting quarterback midway through the 2000 season before the Vols played Alabama.

The freshman completed 17 of 24 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns, helping lead Tennessee to a 20-10 win on Oct. 21, 2000. He started 44 games in his four seasons at Tennessee.

Tee Martin

Martin had the unenviable task of taking over for Peyton Manning in 1998. The Vols started the season on the the road against No. 17 Syracuse.

Martin's home starting debut was two weeks later against No. 2 Florida. Martin was 7-for-20 passing for 64 yards with one touchdown and an interception. He rushed eight times for 25 yards in the second game of Tennessee's national title season.

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Peyton Manning

Manning's iconic career took off when he became the starter a month into his freshman season following injuries to Jerry Colquitt and Todd Helton.

His starting debut was quiet as he completed 7 of 14 passes for 79 yards in a 19-0 win against No. 17 Washington State on Oct. 1, 1994.

Manning ended his career in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history. He set the standard at Tennessee and was the No. 1 pick in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

Heath Shuler

Shuler became the starter after Andy Kelly's stellar career. He opened the 1992 season by throwing for two touchdowns and 130 yards on 8-for-9 passing against Southwestern Louisiana on Sept. 5, 1992. He also rushed for a touchdown. He had 20 yards rushing on four attempts.

Shuler started 24 games in the next two seasons and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting in 1993.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ ByMikeWilson . If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: As Nico Iamaleava makes first home start, how Tennessee QBs fared including Peyton Manning