Nico Iamaleava

Last updated

Nico Iamaleava
Tennessee Volunteers–No. 8
Position Quarterback
ClassFreshman
Personal information
Born: (2004-09-02) September 2, 2004 (age 19) [1]
Long Beach, California, U.S.
Height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight195 lb (88 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High school Warren (Downey, California)
Career highlights and awards

Nicholaus "Nico" Iamaleava (born September 2, 2004) is an American football quarterback for the Tennessee Volunteers. He was one of the top players in the 2023 recruiting class. [3] [4]

Contents

Early life and high school career

Iamaleava was born in Long Beach, California and is of Samoan descent. [3] [5] Iamaleava attended both Warren High School in Downey, California and Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, CA. As a senior, Iamaleava threw for 1,726 yards and 25 touchdowns, while also rushing for six touchdowns. [6] He was named the Polynesian Football Player of the Year. [7] [8] Iamaleava was also named the MVP of the Polynesian Bowl, throwing for 186 yards and a touchdown. [9] Iamaleava was rated as one of the top players in the class of 2023 and committed to play college football at the University of Tennessee. [10] [11]

Iamaleava enrolled early at Tennessee in December 2022, participating in workouts for the 2022 Orange Bowl. [12] [13]

US college sports recruiting information for 2023 recruits
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Nico Iamaleava
QB		 Long Beach, California Warren6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)195 lb (88 kg)Mar 21, 2022 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A    Rivals: 5 stars.svg     247Sports: 5 stars.svg     ESPN: 4 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 87

College career

Iamaleava served as the backup quarterback to Joe Milton during the 2023 regular season before being named Tennessee's starting quarterback for the 2024 Citrus Bowl. [14] [15] In his first career start during the Citrus Bowl, Iamaleava threw for 151 yards and recorded four total touchdowns, one passing and three rushing, leading Tennessee to a 35–0 victory over Iowa. [16] [17] For his performance, he was named Citrus Bowl MVP. [18]

Statistics

SeasonGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCompAttPctYardsAvgTDIntRateAttYardsAvgTD
Tennessee Volunteers
2023 511–0284561.53146.320126.920718.83
Career 511−0284561.53146.320126.920718.83

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References

  1. ↑ Brooks, Gabe (December 13, 2022). "Stacking the 5-star quarterbacks in the updated 2023 Top247". 247Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ @tnsports (January 1, 2024). "QB Nico Iamaleava named Citrus Bowl MVP as Tennessee football routs Iowa" (Tweet). Retrieved January 1, 2024– via Twitter.
  3. 1 2 "Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee Volunteers, Quarterback". 247Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ Ragan, Zach (January 26, 2023). "Nico Iamaleava's high school coach details a trait the 5-star QB has that's going unnoticed". A to Z Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  5. ↑ Evans, Luca (April 5, 2021). "Warren's Nicholaus Iamaleava brings toughness to quarterback play". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  6. ↑ Huffman, Brandon (November 29, 2022). "2023 Polynesian High School Polynesian Player of the Year Finalists Announced". 247Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  7. ↑ Fisher, Jeff (January 22, 2023). "Nico Iamaleava named 2022 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year". High School Football America. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ Ragan, Zach (January 22, 2023). "Watch: Vols QB Nico Iamaleava gives heartfelt speech while accepting prestigious award". A to Z Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ West, Marvin (January 23, 2023). "It isn't easy being Nico". Knox TN Today. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ Kasabian, Paul (March 21, 2022). "5-Star QB Nicholaus Iamaleava Commits to Tennessee over Alabama, Oregon, More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  11. ↑ Jeyarajah, Shehan (March 21, 2022). "Nicholaus Iamaleava commits to Tennessee: Vols land first five-star quarterback recruit since 2002". CBSSports.com. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  12. ↑ Paschall, David (December 17, 2022). "Josh Heupel, Nick Saban voice different takes on players opting out of bowls". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
  13. ↑ Sparks, Adam (December 28, 2022). "Tennessee football quarterback update: Nico Iamaleava is Cade Klubnik in Orange Bowl practice and more". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  14. ↑ Sparks, Adam (December 27, 2023). "Joe Milton opts out of Citrus Bowl; Nico Iamaleava will start for Tennessee football". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  15. ↑ Van Haaften, Reece (December 27, 2023). "Joe Milton opts out of Citrus Bowl, Nico Iamaleava to start". WATE 6 On Your Side. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  16. ↑ Rothman, Sam (January 1, 2024). "Nico Iamaleava leads Vols to Citrus Bowl win in first career start". WATE 6. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  17. ↑ Smith, Craig (January 1, 2024). "Nico Iamaleavea immediately shows what Tennessee Vols' offense has been missing". A to Z Sports. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  18. ↑ Sparks, Adam (January 1, 2024). "QB Nico Iamaleava named Citrus Bowl MVP as Tennessee football routs Iowa". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
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