Nico Iamaleava explains how difficult it's been to adjust to Tennessee Vols' up-tempo offense
True freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava will serve as the Tennessee Vols' top backup quarterback in 2023. The plan for Tennessee in 2023 is for redshirt senior quarterback Joe Milton to lead the team this fall before handing the offense over to Iamaleava for the 2024 season. Even if everything goes to plan and Milton starts […]
True freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava will serve as the Tennessee Vols' top backup quarterback in 2023.
The plan for Tennessee in 2023 is for redshirt senior quarterback Joe Milton to lead the team this fall before handing the offense over to Iamaleava for the 2024 season.
Even if everything goes to plan and Milton starts every game for the Vols this season, there's still a very likely chance that Iamaleava plays some meaningful downs of football at some point.
It might only be for a series or maybe even just a couple of snaps — in the event that Milton has to be checked out on the sidelines — but there will almost certainly be a moment where Iamaleava has his number called.
And when that moment comes, Tennessee is confident that Iamaleava will be ready.
"If he's (Nico) called upon to do a job, that dude will step in and compete at a high level and perform at a high level," said Vols offensive coordinator Joey Halzle on Tuesday. "We have a ton of confidence in that guy."
Part of the reason why Iamaleava will ready despite not having any college football experience is because he's been in the offense since last December. Iamaleava joined Tennessee for their Orange Bowl practices last winter (he ran the scout team, which means he went against the Vols' first-team defense). He also obviously went through spring practice.
Getting in the extra practice time has helped Iamaleava adjust to the speed of Tennessee's offense, something the young quarterback called a "shock".
"It was definitely a shock," said Iamaleava. "You can see it from the outside looking in. But once you're actually in the offense and you've got live bullets flying and you've got to run the offense, it's just way different. So I think that took me a little bit to adjust to. Just, you know, getting the calls out there, getting my reads. With the tempo we run, I think a lot of stuff processes fast and you've got to be able to maintain all that. I think I've done a good job."
There will certainly be some growing pains for Iamaleava as he adjusts to life in the SEC. But it sounds like he's starting to grow comfortable in the offense. And he'll be ready to go if Milton has to exit the field.
Obviously the Vols are hoping that Nico only sees action in mop-up duty during his true freshman season. But I think most college football fans know that it truly takes two quarterbacks to get through a season. So despite the fact that Nico isn't supposed to fully arrive until 2024, there's a good chance that fans get to see what he has to offer in 2023.
Tennessee offensive coordinator speaks on bond between QBs Joe Milton and Nico Iamaleava
Tennessee Vols offensive coordinator Joey Halzle spoke on the bond between QBs Joe Milton and Nico Iamaleava
Featured image via Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
