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Watch: Tennessee freshman QB Nico Iamaleava throws first career touchdown pass

IMG_3593by:Grant Ramey•11/04/23•

GrantRamey

josh-heupel-breaks-down-play-of-nico-iamaleava-against-uconn
(Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports)

Nico Iamaleava is on the board with his first career touchdown pass in a Tennessee football uniform. The five-star freshman quarterback threw a 19-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter Saturday afternoon against UConn, extending the Vols’ lead to 56-3.

It was Iamaleava’s first appearance for Tennessee since the final drive against UTSA, a 45-14 win back on September 23. He headlined Tennessee’s 2023 recruiting class, signing with the Vols as the No. 1 overall player in the On3 ratings, committing to the Vols out of Long Beach, Calif. 

Iamaleava was in the games for two drives against UConn, finishing the day 5-for-9 for 86 yards with one rush for 25 yards.

Iamaleava completed 3 of 5 passes for 44 yards on the scoring drive against UConn and ran once for 25 yards. The drive covered 78 yards in eight plays, taking 2:21 off the clock.

Joe Milton completed 11 of 14 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, helping Tennessee build a 35-3 lead at halftime, and the Vols started the second half with back-to-back interceptions returned for touchdowns from safety Jaylen McCollough and linebacker Aaron Beasley.

Iamaleava’s first career drive ended in the end zone against Virginia on September 2, putting the Vols up 49-10 against after Dylan Sampson scored his fourth touchdown — three rushing, one receiving — on the day. Iamaleava completed 1 of 2 pass attempts on the drive for seven yards. 

Iamaleava’s completion in the season opener went to Kaleb Webb for six yards. He targeted Webb in the end zone on the previous play, but Webb couldn’t come down with the catch.

“That guy is mature beyond his years,” Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said of Iamaleava in August. “He didn’t come in like a true freshman. He came in, one, wanting to learn, not thinking like I know I’m a highly graded recruit, I got it figured out. He came in understanding I want learn, I need to know. 

“And then the way that guy just has his calmness on the field, just his demeanor. I think the guys believe in him as well, that if he’s called upon to do a job like that, he will step in and compete at a high level, a high level. So we have a ton of confidence in that guy.”

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