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Nico Iamaleava for Heisman? SEC Network analyst raves about Tennessee QB
By Sean Labar
Published:
Nico Iamaleava has had plenty of hype for a few years as he went through the recruiting process before eventually deciding to commit to play for the Tennessee Volunteers.
During an impressive 2024 debut, the redshirt freshman thrived as the Vols blew past Chattanooga on Saturday. After what Iamaleava produced, one SEC analyst believes the Tennessee QB should be in the Heisman conversation.
I saw what I saw….I said what I said@Vol_Football has a Heisman award winning QB#SECThisMorning pic.twitter.com/p7YdDH99q3
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) September 3, 2024
“The hype around Nico is real, and the play of Nico is spectacular,” Peter Burns said. “Everything that I wanted it to be, that whole experience to go on the Vol walk with him, to see how he’s cool, calm and collected? That’s not just QB1, that’s not just one of the best QBs in the conference.”
Burns then made a bold statement considering the Vols’ QB has only started one collegiate game against Chattanooga.
“That’s a Heisman Trophy award winner,” Burns continued. “Now it may not happen this year for Nico, but in Josh Heupel’s offense and the amount of success they are going to have recruiting guys to come play with him. And the amount of money they have going in the collective in Knoxville. I think you’re going to see this kid, whether it’s this year or next, he’s going to win a Heisman.”
The redshirt freshman was undoubtedly impressive in his first start of 2024 on Shields-Watkins Field, completing his first 10 passes and finishing with 314 yards through the air on 22-of-28 accuracy with 3 touchdowns in only two quarters of action. That yardage total was a school record for a half, topping the previous best of 313 set by Tyler Bray in the first half vs. Troy in 2012.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound QB from California has the prototypical frame to thrive as a starter in the SEC, but let’s see how he plays against top-tier SEC competition before awarding him the most prestigious award in college football.
Sean Labar is an SEC football contributor for Saturday Down South.
