Former Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava compared to Pro Bowl NFL quarterback ahead of 2026 NFL Draft
Nico Iamaleava wasn't a superstar during his lone season as the Tennessee Vols' starting quarterback, but he was good enough to help lead UT to its first ever College Football Playoff appearance. Iamaleava, who is just 20 years old, is still early in his development as a quarterback. And he has elite physical traits. So […]
Nico Iamaleava wasn't a superstar during his lone season as the Tennessee Vols' starting quarterback, but he was good enough to help lead UT to its first ever College Football Playoff appearance.
Iamaleava, who is just 20 years old, is still early in his development as a quarterback. And he has elite physical traits. So the feeling is that while Iamaleava didn't have a huge breakout season as a redshirt freshman in 2024, he could still reach his ceiling as a potential first-round draft selection in the NFL Draft.
The Athletic, in fact, noted this week that Iamaleava reminds some folks of Los Angeles Chargers Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert.
Iamaleava was listed by The Athletic in tier three of the quarterbacks that scouts will be checking out this fall for the 2026 NFL Draft.
"Iamaleava showed plenty of arm talent and downfield playmaking ability as a tall passer with quick feet and an over-the-top release," wrote The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner. "He needs to get stronger, but many see Justin Herbert in parts of Iamaleava’s game at this stage. He has to prove he can operate in an offense that’s more translatable to what he’ll see in the NFL, but there’s plenty to be intrigued about here."
It'll be interesting to watch Iamaleava's development at UCLA over the next couple of seasons. If the California native develops into a first round NFL Draft pick, there could be some folks on Rocky Top questioning if the right decision was made this past April.
