Heartbreaking: Just Now, Tennessee Football QB Nico Iamaleava died in a plane crash… see more…
There may not be another starting quarterback in college football generating the hype that Nico Iamaleava is for the 2024 season.
Rich Cirminiello with College Football News broke down the top redshirt freshman in college football for 2024. The list includes other SEC quarterbacks, including Arch Manning with the Texas Longhorns and LaNorris Sellers with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
However, it was Iamaleava who topped the entire list, taking the No. 1 spot.
No redshirt freshman is generating more excitement than Iamaleava,” Cirminiello wrote. “And for good reason. The dynamic dual threat from Long Beach, Calif. teased his enormous potential by earning Citrus Bowl MVP in his only 2023 start. Iamaleava is the total package and he’s about to put up sick numbers in Josh Heupel’s offense.”
Iamaleava was a 5-star recruit and the second-ranked player in the 2023 class. The 6-foot-5 quarterback had other offers from top SEC schools like the Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, and LSU Tigers, but chose instead to head to Knoxville to play for Heupel.
Volunteers fans only saw limited reps from Iamaleava as a true freshman, but he made the most of them. His Citrus Bowl debut as a starter made a lasting impression when he threw for 151 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another three touchdowns.
It’s easy to see why people are so excited about Iamaleava taking over under center. Along with a giant frame and plenty of talent, he’s going to be paired with one of the most innovative offensive-minded head coaches in Heupel. He’ll also have some exciting weapons to throw to in Bru McCoy and Squirrel White.
The SEC is always a hyper-competitive conference, but Iamaleava could be the quarterback to make Tennessee a conference title contender.
