USA Today lists Nico Iamaleava as one of 10 Heisman Trophy candidates
Let the Nico Iamaleava hype continue. USA Today this week listed Tennessee Football’s redshirt freshman quarterback as one of 10 Heisman Trophy candidates entering the 2024 season, despite Iamaleava having just one career start under his belt.
Iamaleava made the list alongside Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II, Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders and cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter.
“Iamaleava is by far the least experienced quarterback with legitimate Heisman odds,” USA Today’s Paul Myerberg wrote. “He made just 45 (pass) attempts as a true freshman in 2023, completing 28 passes for 314 yards.
“But what he has is the skill set to burst onto the national scene and the offense to immediately excel. Since Josh Heupel took over in 2021, Tennessee quarterbacks have combined for 93 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions.”
‘He doesn’t get flustered when things kind of break down a little bit’
Iamaleava appeared in five games as a freshman last season and made his first career start in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa, combining for 178 total yards and four total touchdowns.
His 314 passing yards included two touchdowns. He ran 20 times for 71 yards, with the three rushing touchdowns in the bowl game.
“I’m very impressed with him,” Tennessee running backs coach De’Rail Sims said this week. “I mean the way he goes out and commands the whole entire offense. He doesn’t get flustered when things kind of break down a little bit — he don’t get frustrated.
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Major College Football Playoff implications
Nico Iamaleava ranked No. 92 in ESPN’s Top 100 players for 2024 season
Iamaleava was ranked No. 92 by ESPN last week on in its list of the top 100 college football players entering the 2024 season.
“A top-25 recruit in 2023,” ESPN’s David Hale wrote, “Iamaleava gave us a taste of what he’s capable of in 2023, completing 28 of 45 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, scrambling nine times for 72 yards and rushing for three bowl TDs versus Iowa. He looks like the total package.”
Iamaleava was ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect in the On3 ratings in 2023, picking Tennessee over Miami, Alabama, Georgia and others while headlining Tennessee’s recruiting class.
Former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer earlier this week, during an appearance on Josh & Swain on 99.1 WNML-FM in Knoxville, described Iamaleava as “really, really special.”
“This young guy now, Nico is for real, he is,” Fulmer said during the radio appearance. “He’s for real. I’ve been around a lot of good ones. But this guy is really, really special.”
