Top SEC Coach Ready To 'Hit The Ground Running' With Former Five-Star QB

Following one of the Tennessee Volunteers’ best college football seasons in the 21st century with Hendon Hooker taking snaps in 2022, the program couldn’t find the same consistency to keep up with that standard in 2023. Fans hope that will change with redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

The former five-star recruit earned his first start during the Volunteer’s bowl game in the Citrus Bowl. His four total rushing touchdowns earned him the Citrus Bowl MVP in their 35-0 shutout of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Head coach Josh Heupel expects that form to continue as Iamaleava embarks on his first season as starting quarterback in Knoxville.

“We want him to hit the ground running. He’s a young quarterback. [He] played really well in the bowl game. He’s going to continue to grow through all his experiences this year and throughout the course of the season. He’s only going to continue to get better from all of those,” Heupel told media members during SEC media days.

“We expect him to play at a really high level from the very beginning and we need that from him,” he added.

The Volunteers open up conference play with a big test for the freshman as he’ll be welcoming the Oklahoma Sooners to the SEC on the road in Norman, Okla.

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