From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American football player (born 2004)
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]
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]
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
Citrus Bowl , played in January.
[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
Season
Games
Passing
Rushing
GP
GS
Record
Comp
Att
Pct
Yards
Avg
TD
Int
Rate
Att
Yards
Avg
TD
Tennessee Volunteers
2023
5
1
1–0
28
45
61.5
314
6.3
2
0
126.9
20
71
8.8
3
Career
5
1
1−0
28
45
61.5
314
6.3
2
0
126.9
20
71
8.8
3
References
^ Brooks, Gabe (December 13, 2022).
"Stacking the 5-star quarterbacks in the updated 2023 Top247" . 247Sports . Retrieved January 26, 2023 .
^ @tnsports (January 1, 2024).
"QB Nico Iamaleava named Citrus Bowl MVP as Tennessee football routs Iowa" (
Tweet ). Retrieved January 1, 2024 – via
Twitter .
^
a
b
"Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee Volunteers, Quarterback" . 247Sports . Retrieved January 26, 2023 .
^ 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 .
^ Evans, Luca (April 5, 2021).
"Warren's Nicholaus Iamaleava brings toughness to quarterback play" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ Huffman, Brandon (November 29, 2022).
"2023 Polynesian High School Polynesian Player of the Year Finalists Announced" . 247Sports . Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ West, Marvin (January 23, 2023).
"It isn't easy being Nico" . Knox TN Today . Retrieved January 26, 2023 .
^ Kasabian, Paul (March 21, 2022).
"5-Star QB Nicholaus Iamaleava Commits to Tennessee over Alabama, Oregon, More" . Bleacher Report . Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ 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 .
^ Rothman, Sam (January 1, 2024).
"Nico Iamaleava leads Vols to Citrus Bowl win in first career start" . WATE 6 . Retrieved January 1, 2024 .
^ Smith, Craig (January 1, 2024).
"Nico Iamaleavea immediately shows what Tennessee Vols' offense has been missing" . A to Z Sports . Retrieved January 1, 2024 .
^ Sparks, Adam (January 1, 2024).
"QB Nico Iamaleava named Citrus Bowl MVP as Tennessee football routs Iowa" . Knoxville News Sentinel . Retrieved January 1, 2024 .
External links