'Year 2 is going to be my year': What Nico Iamaleava said to start Tennessee's fall camp

What Tennessee Football redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava said during media day on Tuesday, previewing his second year with the Vols and discussing his transition into the starting quarterback role:

Dealing with the hype surrounding him entering this season

“I think, be where your feet are. I’m focused on fall camp, going into fall camp and what we have to do to better our team and try to reach our goals that we have for the season.”

How his play has changed since Tennessee’s win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl

“I think I got more of a great feel for the offense. Out there in the bowl game, it was a lot of playing with instincts, so I feel like I have a better feel for it now going into camp.”

If he’s ever been through an extended period of time not playing like last season

“I’ve never done that. Last year was my first time doing it and yeah, I enjoyed learning from Joe (Milton) and this whole team, just how to be a leader. And it was good for me to sit.” 

If he has progressed in his understanding of certain parts of the Tennessee offense

“I think that is definitely somewhere where I progressed. Why we do certain things, why we motion and why tempo is important. Just things like that. I think that’s definitely somewhere where I grew this past offseason.”

Going from Tennessee’s backup quarterback to one of the team’s leaders 

“I think that was always my vision. Come in early, learn from a guy like Joe, learn from Hendon (Hooker) when he was still here during that bowl prep. And yeah, I think it was great for me. And it’s really what I envisioned. Sit the first year, soak up as much as I can soak up and Year 2 was go time for me.”

His biggest takeaways from Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton III

“Just how to be a pro. How to show up and the way you show up in the building. I took a couple gems from those two. Just being a leader, leading this guy, leading these guys ain’t easy. So learning how to lead. And yeah, I think that’s definitely somewhere I learned that.”

Staying humble despite the hype surrounding him entering his second season at Tennessee 

“Year 2 is something I’ve envisioned since coming here. Year 2 is going to be my year and go time for me. And I’m ready.” 

Being listed at 215 pounds on Tennessee’s roster and how accurate that is

“Yeah, pretty accurate. I’m around that range, 213, 214. Still trying to be more consistent with getting up to 220. But yeah, that’s somewhere I’m at right now.”

How difficult it is to put on and maintain weight 

“I’d say for me it definitely (is). I burn a lot of calories easy. When I first got here, I was pretty light in my senior year, so being able to put on as much weight as I can this offseason. I’ve gotten great help (from) our nutrition staff, our strength program. So yeah, they’ve been helping me out.”

How he has to manage himself as a runner at quarterback

“Well of course I’m always trying to protect myself. I’m not a guy that wants to run … (it’s) really running when I have to. And protecting myself is something we emphasized this past year.”

His hunger to get better as soon as the Citrus Bowl was over, wanting to watch film and see where he could improve from that game

I think watching back on that ball game again, (there were) a couple shots I missed, just not seeing the field right as I should have been. And I think that’s going to help me in future games with experience. So I think I definitely needed that bowl game. And yeah, I think that’s where it comes from, just watching that bowl game over and seeing what I missed.”

How quickly he started breaking down film of the Citrus Bowl

“First time I watched it, the next day, the full TV copy. I watched it and then there just some, some stuff I missed even on the TV copy, where you like felt like you, you missed some things. There were still completions. I think there just could have been bigger completions that I missed.”

How much Tennessee backup QB Gaston Moore has helped him

“Great, man. Gaston has been a great help for me since I’ve got here. Like I said, him and Joe have always pushed me. Gaston helped me get a great grasp of the offense when I first got here and he has continuously pushed me since I’ve been here.” 

How much he plays a part in Tennessee’s current recruiting process 

“Yeah, I’ve been recruiting guys, any guys that the coaches send me. I’ll keep in contact with them and really just (tell them) we can create something special here, man. You can come be a part of this is really what I’ve been pitching.”

What he has seen from Tennessee freshman quarterback Jake Merklinger  

“Jake’s been doing great, man. That whole spring helped him out and all the extra work he’s putting in with the coaches on the side, the young guy meetings. I feel like he’s in a great spot and Jake’s getting it going.”