Joe Milton opts out of Citrus Bowl, Nico Iamaleava to start at QB vs. Iowa

A new era of Tennessee football will begin in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, with starting quarterback Joe Milton opting out and paving the way for heralded freshman Nico Iamaleava, according to a report from Volquest.

Milton started all 12 regular season games for the Volunteers, amassing 2,813 yards and 20 touchdowns, while also rushing for 299 yards and seven scores.

Iamaleava has played sparingly in four games this year, going 16-of-26 passing for 163 yards and a touchdown. He has also rushed for 44 yards.

Now the highly touted freshman will get a chance to show what he can do on the big stage.

Nico Iamaleava was the No. 6 overall player in the nation in the 2023 recruiting class, a five-star prospect according to the On3 Industry Rankings. He was the No. 3 quarterback in the class and the top overall player in the state of California.

So there will be no shortage of hype for Iamaleava.

So what exactly will Tennessee fans be getting in terms of Iamaleava’s quarterback play? Let’s take a look at the On3 scouting report for him as a prospect to find out.

On3 Scouting Report – Nico Iamaleava

“High-upside signal caller who has the best physical tools among quarterbacks in the 2023 cycle as a high school prospect. Has one of the strongest arms in the cycle, generating considerable velocity on his throws in camp settings and on Friday nights. Tall with a slender build at round 6-foot-6, 195 pounds with a 10-inch hand. Has considerable room to fill out. Boasts a whippy throwing motion despite his longer arms. Effortlessly drives the ball downfield while targeting vertical routes.

“One of the better 7-on-7 quarterbacks we’ve seen in several cycles, highlighted by a dominant showing at Overtime’s OT7 event. A bouncy, fluid mover who doubles as a national-level volleyball player. Uses his twitchy athleticism to evade pass rushers and pick up yards on the ground. Still developing in terms of some technical aspects of the game. Plays in a high school offense that is heavily skewed towards quick passes and screens. Can continue to improve his overall consistency.

“Competitive player who embraces physicality and contact as a runner. Has done a very good job taking care of the football with just seven interceptions in three varsity varsity seasons. Capped off his high school career with an MVP showing at the Polynesian Bowl, flashing his plus downfield arm and high-end movement skills both as a runner and in evading the pass rush. Will need to add polish at the college level but has immense physical upside.”