Freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava made his Tennessee debut Saturday in the Vols’ 49-13 season opener against Virginia.
Iamaleava played two drives for Tennessee in the fourth quarter, leading a 40-yard touchdown drive and going three-and-out.
The former five-star quarterback completed two-of-three pass attempts for 11 yards while adding an eight yard rush. With Tennessee holding a large lead, Josh Heupel played things pretty conservatively while Iamaleava was in the game but the third-year head coach was pleased with his freshman signal caller’s debut.
“Really calm, cool,” Heupel said of Iamaleava. “Good demeanor, able to communicate, handle all the pre-snap stuff the right way. Get his eyes in the right place. I thought showed some athleticism.”
Iamaleava’s best feature in the opener was his pocket presence and ability to make something happen when the play broke down. His eight yard run was a scramble.
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Perhaps Iamaleava’s most impressive play was his lone incompletion. The freshman scrambled right when the pocket broke down and fired to an open receiver in the middle of the field, just a little high and behind his target.
“I love the feel in the pocket, being able to step up and get out of it and go make a play with his feet,” Heupel said. “He’s athletic enough to be using the run game and escape the pocket. And I thought some of the run-pass stuff, he did a good job. Made an athletic throw, didn’t complete it, but throwing across his body on a little slant route that ended up not being completed. But all in all, really solid performance from him.”
Tennessee hopes Iamaleava won’t get many meaningful reps this season. If he doesn’t, that means that Joe Milton III stayed healthy all season and performed at least adequately.
But Iamaleava should get plenty of opportunities this week in Tennessee’s home opener against Austin Peay. It would be shocking if Tennessee didn’t have an insurmountable lead by halftime giving Iamaleava plenty of opportunities for reps in the second half.
2 Responses
Really seems like Heupel and other coaches are preparing the team to be a big time contender against any team. Unlike some coaches, Heupel gives credit to other coaches as well as the players. We know not all coaches are like that! UT has become fun to watch again
We are truly blessed on Rocky Top! #GBO