Nico Iamaleava An Early Heisman Contender

Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Nico Iamaleava is an early favorite for the Heisman Memorial Trophy.

The hype continues to grow for Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. The 2023 signee accounted for four touchdowns in his first career start against Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, leading the Vols past a top-5 college football defense for a resounding win.

Iamaleava is the highest-rated quarterback that Tennessee has signed in modern recruiting history, so the hype was already building, but 2024 expectations are quite high after his opening act. Head coach Josh Heupel is excited about the possibilities of Iamaleava in his fast-paced offense, and the national media seems to agree.

Fan Duel: Early 2024 Heisman Trophy Odds

• Quinn Ewers, Texas QB: +750
• Carson Beck, Georgia QB: +750
• Jalen Milroe, Alabama QB: +750
• Dillon Gabriel, Oregon QB: +1000
• Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee QB: +1800
• Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma QB: +1800
• Conner Weigman, Texas A&M QB: +1800
• J.J. McCarthy, Michigan QB: +1800
• Garrett Nussmeier, LSU QB: +2000
• Jaxon Dart, Ole Miss QB: +2000

Eight of the top ten candidates on Fan Duel are SEC quarterbacks, as the conference is loaded with premier talent at the position. Iamaleava is supremely gifted and is arguably the most physically gifted of any quarterback in the country. He's 6-6 with a long frame and plus-upside when he decides to tuck and run. Iamaleava layers the football well and puts a tremendous amount of zip behind his passes in the intermediate game. The Vols have stacked the wide receiver room to ensure he has the necessary targets to achieve his goals.

Tennessee Volunteers QB Nico Iamaleava during the win over Iowa. (Photo by Saul Young of the News Sentinel)

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