Nico Iamaleava named SEC Freshman of the Week after record-setting game vs. Chattanooga
Nico Iamaleava on Monday was named the SEC’s Freshman of the Week after starring in Tennessee’s 69-3 win over Chattanooga on Saturday in the season opener at Neyland Stadium.
Iamaleava completed 22 of 28 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns, setting a new Tennessee record for passing yards in a half before becoming a spectator in the second half, after the Vols led 45-0 at halftime.
He started a perfect 10-for-10 for 189 yards and two touchdowns before throwing his first incompletion late in the second half and was 15-for-16 before he threw his second incompletion.
“He’s a young players,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said. “Came out, played really efficiently, effectively, made plays down the field. There’s some things that he can control and be better and he knows that and he wants that too.”
Up Next: Tennessee vs. N.C. State, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Iamaleava finished the first half 7-for-12 after his 15-for-16 start, leaving him unhappy with how his day ended.
“I thought I didn’t finish the second quarter well,” Iamaleava said. “I can finish better with just operating the offense at a high level. And really I think that was the main thing for me, was not falling asleep during while we’re up big. Still going out there and operating the offense at a high level.”
Redshirt senior backup quarterback Gaston Moore replaced Iamaleava to start the second half, with freshman Jake Merklinger playing later in the game.
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Iamaleava was making his first start at Neyland Stadium after making his first career start on New Year’s Day, when he led Tennessee to a 35-0 win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl after combining for 178 total yards and four total touchdowns.
‘I think he fits really well in the scheme of what (Tennessee wants) to do’
He appeared in five games total last season while backing up Joe Milton III, completing 28 of 45 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns. He ran 20 times for 71 yards and three touchdowns.
Iamaleava was the No. 1 overall player in the On3 Ratings for the 2023 recruiting class, headlining Tennessee’s class as the biggest recruiting win during the Heupel era.
“I think he fits really well in the scheme of what they want to do,” Chattanooga head coach Rusty Wright said. “I think he was what they’d been looking for at that spot. Got all the tools, ball comes out of his hand good.
“I just think the more football he plays, the better he will be. And of course he will because he’s, what, started two games I think now. I think middle of the year, he’ll be rolling pretty good.”
