Nico Iamaleava explains how he has learned from Bryce Young
Nico Iamaleava is the heir apparent for the Tennessee Volunteers, and he’s taking lessons from a former SEC superstar in Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young ahead of the 2024 campaign.
The former Alabama star did quite well in his own right during his time in Tuscaloosa, winning the Heisman and leading the program to the College Football Playoff while suiting up for the Crimson Tide. That’s a goal Iamaleava will have, with the added pressure of being chosen to deliver the Volunteers a title.
When he’s been on the field, Iamaleava’s play has reminded spectators of Young’s playmaking abilities, and that’s not an accident, according to the Volunteers quarterback.
“I think it really is instinctual. Practice reps, you can only do so much,” Iamaleava said while speaking with the media, regarding his similar playmaking abilities to the former first overall pick in Young. “You’ve got a red jersey on, and you’ve got to emulate what it’s going to be like in a game. So, I think, when you get in the game, I think instincts come into play. A lot of playmaking, you know, just a clock in your brain goes off of when you need to make those types of plays.
“Yeah, I’ve learned a lot from Bryce, from watching him up close in his Alabama days, and now at Carolina. So, I’ve always been a big fan of Bryce.”
Will Iamaleava be as successful as Young? That remains to be seen, as the former Alabama quarterback had tremendous success at the college level. Still, the Tennessee star has a fantastic supporting cast around him, and he’s certainly set up to thrive.
Moreover, Young isn’t the only former SEC quarterback Iamaleava has taken lessons from. Before getting his shot to lead Tennessee into battle, Iamaleava learned from two former Volunteers signal callers in Joe Milton and Hendon Hooker, as well.
“I’ve never done that. Last year was my first doing it,” said Iamaleava, regarding sitting behind a veteran quarterback in Milton. “I enjoyed learning from Joe and this whole team – just how to be leader. It was good for me to see. When you’ve got a guy like Joe in front of you, I feel like that’s a great guy to learn from. You know, soak up as much as you can soak up. I feel like I did that last year.
“I think that was always my vision. You know, come in early, learn from a guy like Joe, learn from Hendon when he was still here during that bowl prep. I think it was good for me too. It was really, you know, what I envisioned – sit the first year, soak up as much as I can soak up, and then year two was go-time for me.”
As you can see, Nico Iamaleava has had a first class SEC education in quarterbacking, and the Tennessee Volunteers are hoping it all pays off handsomely in 2024.