The Tennessee Volunteers are the 2024 Cheez-It Citrus Bowl champions after shutting out the Iowa Hawkeyes 35-0 on Monday afternoon in Orlando, Florida.
While Iowa’s offense hasn’t presented the college football world with a challenge all season, Tennessee’s defense still came out and played with their hair on fire. The Vols’ defensive linemen were able to wreak havoc on the Hawkeyes’ offensive line, particularly behind the play of James Pearce Jr. and Tyre West.
Pearce Jr. had a 52-yard pick-six that was set up by good hands and great anticipation on a soft route from the Hawkeyes’ offense.
The major story of the game that people will want to talk about, though, is the play of quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The freshman quarterback was terrific in his first start leading the Vols’ offense despite being behind a patched-up, banged-up offensive line. Iamaleava had a hat trick of rushing touchdowns in the middle quarters of the game and found tight end McCallan Castles for a passing touchdown in the fourth quarter of the contest on Monday.
Iamaleava looked poised throughout the game and was really smart in his decision-making of when to take off and use his legs and kept his eyes downfield when scrambling out of the pocket.
After the game, Tennessee sent Iamaleava, Pearce Jr., and head coach Josh Heupel to the stage for an 18-minute press conference as the reacted to the Vols’ win in front of the media. Tennessee also had running back Dylan Sampson, defensive lineman Tyre West, and safety Jaylen McCollough speak with the media after the game.
More from RTI: Nico Iamaleava Ties Tennessee Program Bowl Record Against Iowa
Check out all of the Vols’ Citrus Bowl postgame interviews from Rocky Top Insider on YouTube below:
HC Josh Heupel, QB Nico Iamaleava, DL James Pearce Jr.
RB Dylan Sampson
DL Tyre West
S Jaylen McCollough
RTI Postgame Reaction
