Tennessee Vols OL Cooper Mays issues important reminder about QB Nico Iamaleava
Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is 7-1 through his first eight games as a starter UT. Despite the impressive record, there are still some fans and media who have been overly-critical of the young quarterback. Iamaleava's made some incredible plays his season that show why he was a five-star recruit coming out of […]
Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is 7-1 through his first eight games as a starter UT.
Despite the impressive record, there are still some fans and media who have been overly-critical of the young quarterback.
Iamaleava's made some incredible plays his season that show why he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school in California. He's also had some bad throws and decisions that he'd like to have back. It's part of the development process for any quarterback.
One comment that I've seen from fans on social media is that former Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker must've been a superior talent because he hit on more deep balls during his two seasons at Tennessee.
Hooker was unquestionably elite at throwing the deep ball, but it's not fair to compare him to Iamaleava at this point of Nico's career.
Hooker was a fifth-year senior at Tennessee in 2021 and a sixth-year senior in 2022. He had four years of collegiate experience before he ever stepped foot in Knoxville.
The player that Iamaleava is right now isn't the player he'll be by the time his career at Tennessee is over (when he's a few years older). That's something that Vols senior offensive lineman Cooper Mays reminded folks of this week during an appearance on Off the Hook Sports.
"I will say it's not comparable, personally," said Mays when asked about the comparison between Hooker and Iamaleava. "That would be like saying to me four years ago to compare me to — I was a whole different person four years ago, you know what I'm saying. When I was 19 years old — you're not comparable to a 25 year old.
"Nico's great in his own right and a different kind of leader. I'm sure he'll end up being different (as he ages). It's hard to be compered to somebody that's — I think Hendon was six years in? That's a real grown man. Most people are married with kids by the age of 25."
Iamaleava will continue to grow as a player and as a leader during his time at Tennessee. And really, I'm not sure why he's receiving any criticism. The Vols are 6-1 and Iamaleava is now just the second Tennessee quarterback (along with Hooker) since Erik Ainge in 2004 that can claim wins against Alabama and Florida. If the Vols beat Georgia while Iamaleava is on Rocky Top, he'll become the first quarterback since Ainge that can claim wins against Tennessee's top three rivals.
Enjoy the ride, Vols fans. And let Nico enjoy the process of being a college football player. There are ups-and-downs for every player. And just because one week has more downs than ups doesn't mean that any hot takes about a player are necessary.
