As spring practice in college football heats up, teams are looking to put last season behind them and gear up for a run at a national title in the 2025-2026 season. This is an excellent opportunity for players to prove themselves on and off the field.
Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava is taking advantage of this and making his presence known during spring ball. The California native turned heads last season with his stellar play, leading Tennessee to a College Football Playoff appearance. Now, the sophomore is taking the next step in his locker room.
Nico Iamaleava Turning Into Tennessee’s Vocal Leader
Tennessee wants to build on last season’s momentum and translate it into an even more successful 2025 campaign. Although the Volunteers were trounced by Ohio State 42-17 in the first round of the College Football Playoff last year, the team over-performed expectations during the regular season.
The Volunteers were fortunate enough to play in the inaugural 12-team CFP mainly because of Iamaleava. He threw for 2,616 yards and 19 touchdowns with only five interceptions while rushing for 358 yards and three touchdowns.
With all the success that came last season, the expectations for his sophomore year have only grown. Iamaleava knows that he will be the face of this team for the entire season, with the team’s success revolving around how well he can play. During the spring practices, he has embraced the leader role and become a vocal point for the rest to rally behind.
TRENDING: Nico Iamaleava has had a very good offseason, having put on a significant amount of weight, according to QB coach Joey Halzle, and has become a more vocal leader, as noted by his teammates.
Year two for QB1 📈📈📈 pic.twitter.com/l8JfmIAw56
— Rocky Top Now (@rockytopnow) March 20, 2025
Iamaleava has also been hitting the weight room in preparation for the upcoming season, having put on “a significant amount of weight,” which is much needed for someone with a dual-threat style.
Being the teammate that others can turn to and rally behind is usually the responsibility of an upperclassman. Iamaleava’s teammates praise his leadership as a sophomore, which shows the quarterback’s maturity.
Iamaleava currently has the eighth-best odds of winning the Heisman, and Tennessee will need him to play like it. The Volunteers have a tough SEC schedule. Having to play Georgia and Arkansas, both programs handed Iamaleava and Tennessee their two regular-season losses last year.
They will also have to travel to Tuscaloosa to take on the Crimson Tide in one of the more hostile sports environments and head to Gainsville to face off with an up-and-coming Florida squad.
KEEP READING: ‘What Happens Out There Stays Out There’ — Nico Iamaleava Call Out Tennessee Players at Spring Practice
If Iamaleava can continue making outstanding progress with his game while continuing to be a leader in the locker room, Tennessee will be a tough team to beat and a dark horse to make a championship run.
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