Five-star prospect turned Tennessee Volunteers freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava is taking over the internet following a highlight reel performance at Tennessee’s Orange and White intrasquad scrimmage game on Saturday. Neyland Stadium’s weekend scrimmage marked Iamaleava’s first appearance on the field for the team, and the top ranked QB did not disappoint the crowd.
From weaving through rushers to nailing passing completions, Iamaleava stunned Knoxville with 112 passing yards — most notably a 30-yard highlight-reel rocket to fellow freshman Ethan Davis that has the internet talking. Despite being a spring-game scrimmage, Knox News reported that 58,473 were in attendance to witness the five-star recruit’s performance.
“This is the type of ability that made Nico Iamaleava On 3 Recruits’ No. 1 prospect,” On 3 Recruits director of scouting and rankings Charles Power tweeted. “Big-time arm and athleticism. Big-time small window throw from outside the pocket to fellow true freshman Ethan Davis.”
This is also not the first time Iamaleava has caught social media’s attention. NFL Rookie Watch took to TikTok in June 2022 to hype the then five-star prospect.
“He is going to be special at the next level,” the social media account said while posting footage of the quarterback in action.
ESPN ranked Iamaleava as the fourth top QB prospect in the country. The 6′6″ pocket passer, a California native from Warren High School, signed with Tennessee last year.
“This decision, because of what they’ve done with all the quarterbacks they had before them, just coming in seeing the numbers that Hooker had as opposed to the previous years,” Iamaleava told ESPN on the day of his signing. “They have a breakdown of every quarterback that starts when he first came in and how they looked at season end. So the development part that they showcase, along with all their quarterbacks, that played a huge part because we know he’s going to be developed.”
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