Nico Iamaleava was one of the most polarizing college football players last season. From being a preseason Heisman candidate in his first year as a starter to finishing eighth in the SEC in passing yards, there are many opinions about the Tennessee Volunteers quarterback, but how does the redshirt sophomore fare in 2025?
Last Season
Heading into the 2024 season, expectations were through the roof for Iamaleava. Before the redshirt freshman quarterback started an entire season, several sports betting and news sites listed Iamaleava as a top-five favorite for the Heisman Trophy. The Vols quarterback has even drawn comparisons to Hall of Fame QB Peyton Manning.
During his 2024 campaign, Iamaleava became the first Vols freshman quarterback to achieve 10 regular-season wins, leading Tennessee to its first College Football Playoff appearance in program history.
Iamaleava finished his season with 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns, and five interceptions. The rookie signal-caller’s on-the-field performance earned him SEC Freshman of the Week four times, surpassing former Vols gunslinger Tyler Bray‘s previous school record of three.
Speaking of Bray, Iamaleava threw for 314 yards in one half in Tennessee’s first game against the Chattanooga Mocs, breaking Bray’s previous record of 313 yards.
While on the topic of former Volunteer quarterbacks, Iamaleava arguably has the best freshman season of any Vols QB. Here is how Iamaleava’s stats compare to freshman quarterbacks from Tennessee’s past:
Other Tennessee QBs’ Freshman Seasons
| Player | G | Yds | TD | Int | Cmp% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peyton Manning | 11 | 1,141 | 11 | 6 | 61.8 |
| Casey Clausen | 9 | 1,473 | 15 | 6 | 62.4 |
| Erik Ainge | 9 | 1,452 | 17 | 9 | 55.1 |
| Tyler Bray | 9 | 1,849 | 18 | 10 | 55.8 |
| Nico Iamaleava | 13 | 2,616 | 19 | 5 | 63.8 |
Although not all of these quarterbacks played the same number of games, Iamaleava still averaged more passing yards per game (201.2) than all of the players mentioned besides Tyler Bray (205.4).
How Will Iamaleava Do in 2025?
Even though Iamaleava did not have the Heisman-caliber season some fans hoped for, it is crucial to remember how young the quarterback is. Not every freshman quarterback becomes an All-American overnight, and Iamaleava still needs time to flourish.
Tee Martin didn’t start until his junior season, and he won Tennessee a national title. Hendon Hooker didn’t become a starter until his fourth season in college, and he won Offensive SEC Player of the Year. So, don’t write Iamaleava’s name off just yet.
2025 will be the perfect test to see if Iamaleava lives up to his five-star potential. However, it will be an uphill battle, considering the Vols lost SEC Offensive Player of the Year Dylan Sampson, four starting offensive linemen, and most of their receiving core.
The good news is that Josh Heupel has had a top-20 total offense in each of four seasons as Tennessee’s head coach, and Heupel achieved that success with three different starting quarterbacks.
Even before arriving in Knoxville, Heupel coached former all-conference quarterbacks such as Dillon Gabriel, McKenzie Milton, Drew Lock, and Landry Jones. Fun fact: Drew Lock had more career passing touchdowns in college (99 TDs) than Peyton Manning (89 TDs).
Another positive sign for Iamaleava was his growth throughout last year. He began the season with nine touchdowns through the air and four interceptions through the first eight games. However, he flipped a switch in his last five games, throwing an additional 10 touchdowns to only one interception.
As long as Tennessee’s new offensive line can provide protection and Iamaleava does not get hurt, the young QB’s potential is limitless.