'Huge confidence in him': Vols would have no hesitation if forced to play Nico Iamaleava

The last time Joe Milton III entered a season as Tennessee’s starting quarterback, after winning the open competition for the job in 2021, he lasted only two weeks. An ankle injury suffered in a Week 2 loss to Pitt at Neyland Stadium opened the door for Hendon Hooker and he never looked back.

This time around, after Milton waited his turn to get back to that starting spot, there’s not veteran backup behind him. Instead, it’s five-star freshman Nico Iamaleava. Behind him? Redshirt juniors Gaston Moore and Navy Shuler. 

But should Tennessee be forced to rely on Iamaleava early on, the Vols would have no concerns with him on the field. 

“Huge confidence in him,” Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said during media day on Tuesday in Knoxville. 

‘If he’s called upon to do a job like that, he will step in and compete at a high level, a high level’

It’s a confidence that Iamaleava spent the offseason earning with an impressive approach to the game.

“That guy is mature beyond his years,” Halzle said. “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.”

Iamaleava arrived at Tennessee in December, making his unofficial debut with the Vols in bowl practices leading up to the 31-14 win over Clemson in the Orange Bowl in Miami. He went through spring practice with his new teammates, too, getting a taste of college football at the highest level. 

“I think he did a great job in the spring, just to start,” Halzle said. “Getting thrust into the (second team) reps, which a lot of people come in and they’re going against the other freshman. Well, he’s going in there against linebackers that have played four years of college football already because, and Coach (Tim) Banks has his entire disposal of his defense at him.  So he did a great job handling that.”

Now there’s more to handle.  

“Anytime going from spring to summer, that is a huge time,” Halzle said “… I’m looking forward to him being more defined with his eyes. I’m not trying to figure out what am I getting … this is where my eyes go and that’s where the ball goes.”

Up Next: Vols vs. Virginia, Sept. 2, Nashville, Noon ET, ABC

Iamaleava finished as the No. 1 overall player in the On3 ratings in the 2023 recruiting class, committing to the Vols out of Long Beach, Calif. 

Last season Milton passed for 971 yards and 10 touchdowns, completing 65 percent of his passes over nine games playing behind Hooker. He started in Tennessee’s 56-0 win in the regular-season finale at Vanderbilt a week after Hooker’s season-ending injury, throwing for 147 yards and a touchdown while the Vols rushed for 362 yards and six touchdowns as a team.

He was named Orange Bowl MVP after throwing for 251 yards and three touchdowns.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel on Tuesday detailed what he wants to see from both Milton and Iamaleava during training camp.

“Both of them, I expect to compete and lead at a high level,” Heupel said. “I think it’s really important that those guys have great energy and urgency and that transcends not just through our offense, but also through our football team. 

“For all of our players, this is a game that’s never gonna be perfect. And being able to reset from one play to the next, I think is one of the most important traits that you have as a competitor and as a player in this game. So for those two guys, being able to do that and then master what we do in offensive group, really important.”