Five-star quarterback Nico Iamaleava is one of the most highly-anticipated players in the history of Tennessee Volunteers football, and he’s already making a name for himself with some highlight plays before he even plays his first official snap with the team.
Nico Iamaleava, who is rated as the No. 2 quarterback and No. 3 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class, graduated from high school a semester early so he could enroll at Tennessee early. And even though he should still be in high school, he turned some heads with one incredible pass during the Volunteers’ spring game on Saturday afternoon.
While Iamaleava is not expected to be the team’s starting quarterback this upcoming college football season, he got a chance to show what he can do, and he delivered.
During the second quarter of Saturday’s spring game, Iamaleava faced a third-and-7, and he converted for the first down with an absolutely incredible play. After rolling out to avoid the pass rush, he threw an absolutely perfect ball off of his back foot that hit his receiver perfectly downfield.
Freshman to freshman🔥
Nico ➡️ Ethan connection down the sideline
📺SECN+ https://t.co/qge1Uvt3XA
📺ESPN+ https://t.co/yMrqywmSCw pic.twitter.com/1sOCkl8rG5— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) April 15, 2023
It was an incredible throw by the young star, and the college football world had plenty to say about it on Twitter as a result.
This is the type of ability that made Nico Iamaleava @On3Recruits’ No. 1 prospect. Big-time arm and athleticism. Big-time small window throw from outside the pocket to fellow true freshman Ethan Davis https://t.co/FnRqMcWonu pic.twitter.com/qf4WoRKrDp
— Charles Power (@CharlesPower) April 15, 2023
Nico Iamaleava putting folks on notice!pic.twitter.com/s8yS0X2nXB
— Cory Yates (@CoryRAanalytics) April 15, 2023
What's wild is there is absolutely no reaction from the coaches in the booth following this play.
They have clearly seen these type of plays from Nico Iamaleava already during his brief time at Tennessee https://t.co/oqbY6H5fxJ
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) April 16, 2023
Long road ahead for Nico Iamaleava, but this kid has the touch pic.twitter.com/qawtNtGAsJ
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) April 16, 2023
Nico Iamaleava
Remember the name. His time is near. 👀
— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) April 15, 2023
It’s certainly a solid start to his young college football career.
