Nico Iamaleava injury: Tennesseee star QB leaves game vs. Alabama

Folks inside Neyland Stadium are holding their breath as they watch Nico Iamaleava leave Saturday’s game against Alabama. The Tennessee quarterback was attempting to escape pressure before being tackled and his head hit the ground hard while throwing the ball away. But Iamaleava did not immediately get back up and stayed down.

Trainers instantly rushed onto the field to check on the second-year player before walking off and heading toward the medical tent. Gaston Moore has entered the game for head coach Josh Heupel and on his first play, an interception was thrown to Malachi Moore, giving the ball right back to Alabama.

ESPN’s broadcast did show Iamaleava with his helmet on before Moore got his play. He was also seen warming up on the sideline but without a helmet, throwing to a receiver. At the time of posting, there is no indication of whether or not he will get back into the game.

Iamaleava has attempted just eight passes on the day, completing three of them for 37 yards. Tennessee has had receivers down the field at times but multiple overthrows have prevented the Vols from having big-time chunk plays.

Urban Meyer worried about development of Nico Iamaleava

Nico Iamaleava was lighting the world on fire through three games, living up to the five-star billing he was given during the recruiting process. The next three contests have not been as pretty, though, with the Tennessee offense struggling. Dropping a game before the Alabama game was not what the Vols expected after Iamaleava’s great start.

It’s gotten to the point where Urban Meyer is worried about the track the quarterback is on. Meyer was initially a fan of Iamaleava, calling fellow Big Noon Kickoff hosts Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn, wondering if an NFL team was going to be selecting him in the first round.

But after watching Iamaleava play against SEC opponents, he calls the situation “a mess.”

“They are in reverse right now,” Meyer said. “Twenty points per game the last three games. Twenty points per game, that’s usually in the first half. They just don’t look right, they look a mess.”