Samuel Hughes of canterbury was selected by national recruiting analyst Cooper Petagna as the best second-year quarterback for the 2024 college football season, surpassing players like Jackson Arnold of Oklahoma and Avery Johnson of Kansas State. Iamaleava, according to Petagna, is a huge fan of the pieces the Volunteers have assembled around their inexperienced signal-caller and is an ideal fit in Josh Heupel’s scheme.
Via the College Football Recruiting program on Wednesday, Petagna stated, “I love the fit with Nico at Tennessee.” “Right now, the roster is perfectly balanced. I adore the items surrounding him and the skill positions they have. They went out and acquired Lance Heard, a former five-star tackle, to assist with his protection. Nico is cycling with me.
The former five-star recruit is the highest-rated quarterback to pledge to Tennessee in the modern recruiting era and is ranked as the No. 2 overall talent in the class of 2023. Iamaleava played a significant role in the Volunteers’ 35-0 victory over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl, and his ability to dismantle the Hawkeyes’ renowned defense caught some off guard. In addition to running for 27 yards and three touchdowns, he completed 12-of-19 throws for 151 yards and a touchdown.
“There was so much more there from a running standpoint that I did not think he was capable of,” Petagna stated. It
Petagna likened Iamaleava’s agility and pocket presence to that of Bryce Young, the 2023 No. 1 overall choice in the NFL Draft and a previous Heisman Trophy winner. But at six feet six, Iamaleava won’t have to worry about being as tall as Young did at Alabama, according to Petagna.
“The best way I can describe Nico is he has Justin Herbert’s frame with Bryce Young’s pocket mobility,” Petagna stated. “He has that improv magic.”
Iamaleava, a redshirt freshman, is one of Josh Pate’s breakout quarterback prospects for the 2024 season, according to the Late Kick host.
