"I think Nico Iamaleava is gonna be a STAR": Josh Pate predicts Tennessee QB to become 'household name' in college football

The Tennesse Volunteers will be relying on Nico Iamaleava as their starting QB following Joe Milton's transition into the NFL this year. The 19-year-old played high school football for Warren High School and Long Beach Polytechnic before enrolling at Tennessee early in December 2022.

CFB analyst Josh Pate believes that Iamaleava is going to make quite a name for himself very quickly in college football. During a recent episode of his podcast, Pate talked about how the young QB will have a strong impact this upcoming season and will become a 'household name'.

"I think Nico Iamaleava is gonna be a star in this sport. And I don't think you'll have to wait a couple of years. I think he will be that this year. That dude will end up being a household name in college football and you don't play a long time in college football, so you gotta be really good really fast."

As a senior in high school, Nico Iamaleava recorded 1,726 passing yards and 25 TD passes along with six rushing touchdowns. His incredible performance earned him the honor of Polynesian Football Player of the Year.

After enrolling early in Tennessee, Iamaleava participated in the Orange Bowl workouts with the team. Standing at 6-foot-6 and 210 lbs, the 19-year-old is a dual-threat QB on the field, making pinpoint passes and running with the ball whenever needed.

---

Nico Iamaleava college record and stats

During his freshman campaign with the Tennessee Volunteers, Iamaleava made five appearances in 2023. He went on to record 314 passing yards and two passing touchdowns along with 71 rushing yards and three rushing TDs.

Despite having limited time on the field, the 19-year-old gave fans a glimpse of his talent and potential to be a dominant force in college football.

During the Citrus Bowl game last January against Iowa, Iamaleava helped the Vols secure a 35-0 victory over the Hawkeyes. He tallied 151 passing yards, one passing TD, and three rushing touchdowns.

With Tennessee putting their faith in a new quarterback, it will be interesting to see how far can Iamaleava lead the team during the 2024 season.