Vols looking 'to hit the ground running' with Nico Iamaleava

Redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava enters his first season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback in 2024.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound signal-caller appeared in five games, including starting the Vols’ win against Iowa in the Citrus Bowl, as a freshman last season.

Fourth-year Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with media on Tuesday at SEC media days at Omni Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

He discussed Iamaleava entering fall training camp as Tennessee’s starting quarterback.

“We want him to hit the ground running,” Heupel said. “He’s a young quarterback. Played really well in the bowl game. He’s going to continue to grow. Through all of his experiences here, throughout the course of the season, he’s only going to continue to get better from all of those.

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