The Nico Iamaleava era has begun on Rocky Top.
With veteran quarterback Joe Milton III electing to opt out of the Citrus Bowl, the Vols’ freshman quarterback led the Tennessee offense onto the field against a stout Iowa defense on Monday afternoon in Orlando.
Iamaleava racked up 42 passing yards on 4-of-8 passing in the first quarter but both teams ended the first 15 minutes of the game scoreless.
Then came the second quarter.
Six seconds into the second quarter of action, Iamaleava burst through the defense to score a 19-yard rushing touchdown on a designed quarterback run to give the Vols their first points of the game.
NICO. SIX.
📺 ABC
📲 https://t.co/4jF6avyAgv pic.twitter.com/6nT7rKRcnS— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 1, 2024
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The touchdown was so nice that Iamaleava wanted to do it twice… in the same quarter.
Just about seven minutes after scoring his first rushing touchdown, Iamaleava once again found the endzone on a designed quarterback run. The freshman quarterback took it three yards down the left side of the offensive line and into the endzone for the Vols’ second touchdown of the day and their second in the quarter.
Another one.
📺 ABC
📲 https://t.co/4jF6avyAgv pic.twitter.com/0CdUSx8ufQ— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) January 1, 2024
It’s hard not to be impressed with Iamaleava’s first half of being the starting quarterback for the Volunteers. Despite some shaky play from the banged-up offensive line, Iamaleava has done a great job of using his legs to his advantage. Yes, there have been four sacks from the Iowa defense, but that’s somewhat expected from the Hawkeyes’ defensive line against Tennessee’s patched-up offensive line.
Iamaleava has also been good with his arm, highlighted by a 27-yard sideline strike to Ramel Keyton during the two-minute drill while on the run to his right.
At the time of this publication at halftime of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, No. 21 Tennessee currently leads No. 17 Iowa by a score of 14-0 behind Iamaleava’s two rushing touchdowns.
Nico Iamaleava has 94 yards on 7-of-13 passing with 23 yards and two touchdowns on the ground at halftime.
