Josh Heupel comments on the relationship so far between Vols QBs Joe Milton and Nico Iamaleava
The Tennessee Vols have high hopes for true freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava — they believe he can be a quarterback who delivers a national championship to Rocky Top. For now, however, the Vols are Joe Milton's team. Milton, a former Michigan quarterback who transferred to Tennessee ahead of the 2021 season, will get his (second) […]
The Tennessee Vols have high hopes for true freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava — they believe he can be a quarterback who delivers a national championship to Rocky Top.
For now, however, the Vols are Joe Milton's team.
Milton, a former Michigan quarterback who transferred to Tennessee ahead of the 2021 season, will get his (second) chance to be the Vols' starter this upcoming season (Milton was the starter in 2021 but he lost the job to Hendon Hooker after suffering an injury in UT's second game of the season).
If everything goes according to plan, Iamaleava won't start any games for the Vols until 2024.
While Nico isn't expected to start for Tennessee in 2023, he'll still be taking important steps forward in his development as an SEC quarterback. And Milton will be critical in helping Nico reach his potential.
On Monday, Vols head coach Josh Heupel joined 104.5 The Zone's "Ramon, Kayla, and Will" and he touched on the growing relationship between Milton and Iamaleava.
"I think it's important that we continue — as new guys come into that position room (quarterbacks room) — that they buy into and understand the culture of we want to have in that room," explained Heupel on Monday. "Joe has done a great job with Nico of helping him get his feet on the ground [and] grow as a player. Some of that is 'this is how you handle things on the field', but a lot of it is just how you continue to be a pro inside the building and push to be your best — the time and energy, and effort you gotta put into it."
"Nico's got a ton of growth — we're really excited about him and what he's done so far here on campus," added Heupel. "You know, probably about 13 bowl practices that he's got under his belt. But Joe's got a whole 'nother level of growth that he's got left in him, too. Really excited about what he's done so far this offseason. But also, what's going to happen here through spring ball as he continues to push to become his best."
It's clear that Heupel wants a certain type of culture in his quarterbacks room. He wants competition, but he doesn't want resentment. That can be tough to pull off. But the Vols showed it could be done over the last two seasons with the way that Milton and Hooker managed what could've been an awkward situation. And now the experience that Milton has from being in that situation (going from starter to backup and back to starter) will help the culture in Tennessee's quarterbacks room continue to strengthen.
Having the right culture is half the battle when it comes to building a successful program. So far, all signs point to the culture under Josh Heupel being as good as it gets in college football.
Featured image via Calvin Mattheis/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
