Josh Heupel evaluates the importance of Nico Iamaleava's bowl experience to his success in 2024

Quarterback Nico Iamaleava has officially been handed the keys to Tennessee‘s high-powered offense ahead of his redshirt freshman season for the Volunteers. But the former five-star prospect had an excellent test drive to end the 2023 college football season for the Vols on January 1.

Iamaleava received his first collegiate start as Tennessee faced Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, a game he excelled in earning Citrus Bowl MVP and leading the Volunteers to a dominant 35-0 win. A moment that his head coach Josh Heupel recently discussed with On3’s Andy Staples as a crucial point in his development.

“Hugely, vitally important to the continued growth of him this offseason,” Heupel told Staples at SEC Media Days. “The experience of knowing you’re going to be the guy, completely different than just getting thrown into the game.”

“Owning the preparation from the video, to the practice field, the time on task with the other 10 guys, then creating the urgency that you need in the offseason, and he’s had a great offseason. Really excited to get into training camp with him,” Heupel said.

Iamaleava appeared in four games during the regular season off of the bench for Tennessee last year, where he threw for 163 yards and one touchdown on his 26 pass attempts. But in the Citrus Bowl, Volunteer fans saw a much larger sample size of who could be the quarterback of the future for the Tennessee program.

He completed 63.2% of his passes for 151 yards and a touchdown, also rushing for three touchdowns on the ground against an Iowa defense that ended the season as the fourth best in the FBS in points allowed per game. A performance that Heupel was impressed with and can definitely propel into a breakout season in 2024.

“He played within himself, one of the best compliments you can give a quarterback is from practice to the game, the game doesn’t speed up. It slowed down for him, he was in complete control,” Heupel explained. “There’s some things and outcomes on plays that he would want differently, but that’s why you practice and continue to grow.”

At 6-foot-6, 215 pounds, Iamaleava has all the physical tools to excel under center for Tennessee and potentially make the jump to the NFL in his career. With Heupel previously raving about his elite intangibles as well throughout the offseason. Making him one of the most intriguing starting quarterbacks across the country to watch this upcoming college football season.