Nico Iamaleava comes to Tennessee by way of Warren High School in Downey, Calif. The 6-foot-6, 206 pound quarterback was one of the nation’s prized recruits in the 2023 class.
In fact, On3 had Iamaleava rated as the No. 1 player in the 2023 class. Per 247Sports, Iamaleava was a five-star signee, the nation’s No. 2 player overall, the No. 2 quarterback in the country and the top player from The Golden State. Rivals similarly ranked Iamaleava as the No. 2 player nationally, as the No. 2 quarterback and as the top player from Cali.
ESPN ranked Iamaleava the lowest, ranking him as a four-star signee. Iamaleava checked in as the No. 3 player from California, as the No. 4 quarterback and as the No. 23 player overall per ESPN.
Joe Milton III started all 12 of Tennessee’s regular season games. That means this is Nico Iamaleava’s first career start.
Iamaleava has appeared in four games thus far this season, completing 16-of-26 passes for 163 yards with one 19-yard touchdown pass to McCallan Castles in Tennessee’s 59-3 win over UConn on Nov. 4.
Iamaleava’s most extended action came in the regular season finale versus Vanderbilt where he completed 9-of-12 passes for 66 yards in the Vols’ 48-24 victory.
Iamaleava also made appearances in Tennessee’s 49-13 season-opening win over Virginia and their 45-14 triumph over UTSA. He has also carried the football five times for 44 yards.
