The one trait that Vols QB Nico Iamaleava has that's getting overlooked
There's been plenty to dissect so far when it comes to Tennessee Vols true freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the No. 1 overall player (per On3) in the 2023 recruiting class. So far, Iamaleava is as advertised. He's quickly proven to be a great teammate that's eager to learn. He's also shown off some of the […]
There's been plenty to dissect so far when it comes to Tennessee Vols true freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the No. 1 overall player (per On3) in the 2023 recruiting class.
So far, Iamaleava is as advertised. He's quickly proven to be a great teammate that's eager to learn. He's also shown off some of the physical abilities that made him the top recruit in the nation.
While it's obvious that Nico is deserving of the hype that he received during his recruitment, there's one trait that the California native possesses that isn't being mentioned nearly enough.
Nico looks incredibly smooth when he's on the field, but he's not a "finesse" player that's afraid of contact. Nope, Iamaleava is as tough as it gets. And there's a story from his time at Warren High School that gives fans a great example of Iamaleava's toughness.
During a practice in early 2021, Iamaleava stiff-armed a defender near the goal line. The play resulted in Nico suffering a compound fracture to his index finger on his non-throwing hand.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Nico was told he'd be out for four to six weeks.
Instead, Iamaleava returned to practice the next week and played just eight days after suffering the compound fracture. He passed for 361 yards and six touchdowns while leading his team to a 40-20 win.
“He’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached, and in a position where you don’t get a lot of tough kids,” said Warren head coach Kevin Pearson in 2021. “He’s just different. His mentality is different.”
Nico was 15 years old when the finger injury occurred. I don't think there are many 15-year-olds that have that type of mentality. But that's what sets Nico apart from other talented quarterbacks.
Iamaleava absolutely has every trait that a coach could want in a quarterback. It's easy to see why Vols head coach Josh Heupel seems barely able to contain his excitement at times when talking about the young quarterback.
It's the Joe Milton show for now at Tennessee. But it won't be long before it's time for Nico to shine (Heupel and the Vols are hoping that Milton plays well enough that Nico's time won't come until 2024).
For the first time in a long time, quarterback is a position of strength at Tennessee. And as long as Heupel's in town, that should be the case for years to come.
