One of Nico Iamaleava's most impressive throws fell incomplete during Tennessee Vols' 69-3 win over Chattanooga Mocs
Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava showed a whole lot of good on Saturday during UT's 69-3 win over the Chattanooga Mocs. The redshirt freshman was sharp, completing 22 of 28 passes for 314 yards – a school record for a half – and 3 touchdowns. Iamaleava made a number of impressive throws, connecting with Dont'e […]
Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava showed a whole lot of good on Saturday during UT's 69-3 win over the Chattanooga Mocs. The redshirt freshman was sharp, completing 22 of 28 passes for 314 yards – a school record for a half – and 3 touchdowns.
Iamaleava made a number of impressive throws, connecting with Dont'e Thornton for a 59-yard gain as well as two touchdowns. He also threw with anticipation and great placement, as noted by former Georgia Bulldogs QB Aaron Murray during a film breakdown on Sunday.
However, it was one of Nico's six incomplete passes that was one of the more awe-inspiring throws of the day for #8.
Murray noted in his breakdown how Nico watched the linebackers drop and how Nico threw to a spot just behind them, where Chris Brazzell II ran to on a dagger route for a big gain.
The throw in the clip above was another impressive one in that Nico was able to gauge where his player would be in relation to the defenders located in the middle of the field. The ball could have only been put into one place between the retreating linebacker and approaching safety, and Nico put that ball right there for TE Holden Staes to make the grab. Unfortunately for Tennessee there, he wasn't quite able to pull it down.
However, it's yet another example of Nico throwing the ball with top-level touch into space with accuracy. And for those clamoring about the decision to throw it there into a tight window, it was actually a free play for Tennessee on 2nd and 29 with a 45-0 lead late in the first half, as Chattanooga had jumped offside at the start of the play. It was a no-risk move there for Nico. Why not try it? It almost paid off under the circumstances.
We'll see if Nico can continue to show the same level of accuracy when the competition level rises on Saturday in Charlotte against NC State.
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