Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker describes challenge of facing Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava
Iowa defensive coordinator Phil Parker knew the number before he sat down for his press conference Friday morning — 54. That’s how many snaps Tennessee five-star freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava played while appearing in four games this season.
And that’s all the Hawkeyes have for a sample size to prepare for Iamaleava, who will make his first career start for No. 21 Tennessee (8-4) against No. 17 Iowa (10-3) in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Monday (1 p.m. Eastern Time, ABC) at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.
“I don’t think the offense is going to change,” Parker said. “It’s been very similar to what he’s done in the past. But I think we have about 54 snaps on him.
“They are running the same offense but he is a little bit different in style. Probably runs maybe a little bit better. I’m sure they have got some other things up their sleeve of what they want to do with them.”
Parker’s defense has carried Iowa to 10 wins and the trip to the Big Ten championship game — a 26-0 loss to Michigan — giving up just 13.2 points per game (fourth nationally in scoring defense) and allowing only 274.8 yards per game (fifth in total defense). Opposing offenses have scored just 15 touchdowns against the Hawkeyes in 13 games.
‘That’s the best guy we are playing, and you guys better be on your game’
It’s a matchup of contrasting styles in the Citrus Bowl, with Tennessee’s uptempo offense averaging 31.5 points per game this season, a year removed from leading all of college football in scoring offense at 41.6 points per game in 2022.
“It’s going to be a challenge for us,” Parker said of facing Tennessee’s offense, “and we are going to have to to be able to match their talent outside with the wide receivers they have, and the ability to stop the run.”
Opt-outs and NFL declarations eliminated Tennessee’s top two running backs in junior Jaylen Wright and senior Jabari Small. Wright rushed for 1,013 yards to lead the Vols, ahead of 477 yards from Small.
Sophomore Dylan Sampson — 103 touches, 646 total yards, eight touchdowns — will be the starter on Monday, with freshman Cameron Seldon second in the rotation.
Tennessee was 14th nationally in rushing offense this season, averaging 202.5 yards per game. Iowa’s defense was 12th against the run, giving up only 102.5 yards per game.
“I think (stopping the run is) the most important thing that we have to do in any game,” Parker said. “You have to make sure you stop the run and try to make them pass it, which they have a lot of explosive plays and one of our goals is making sure that we don’t give up explosive plays. So it’s definitely a challenge in that way.”
No. 21 Tennessee vs. No. 17 Iowa, Citrus Bowl, Monday, 1 p.m. ET, ABC
It was announced on Wednesday morning that redshirt senior Joe Milton III, Tennessee’s starter this season and the final two games last year, was opting out and declaring for the 2024 NFL Draft.
That meant the long awaited and highly anticipated first start for Iamaleava, who signed with Tennessee as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class according to the On3 ratings.
Iamaleava completed 16 of 26 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown in his limited reps during the regular season. He rushed five times for 48 yards.
He played in Tennessee’s season-opening 49-13 win over Virginia on September 2, against UTSA on September 23, against UConn on Homecoming in November and against Vanderbilt in the regular-season finale a month ago.
Parker said the lack of experience, or the exact number of snaps played by Iamaleava during his freshman season, won’t change Iowa’s approach.
“(It) doesn’t matter,” he said, “whether they are the first-time starter, fifth or they have five snaps or if they had 25 snaps or if they had 400. They are all treated the same. That’s the best guy we are playing, and you guys better be on your game.”
