Tennessee football recruiting: 5-star 2023 QB Nico Iamaleava pledges to Vols

Josh Heupel just landed what might be his best recruit so far, and Tennessee is moving up the college football recruiting rankings.

Tennessee football just landed a major recruiting coup as 5-star 2023 quarterback Nico Iamaleava announced he pledged to the Volunteers.

That decision comes off a lengthy visit the quarterback and his family took to Knoxville to meet with second-year head coach Josh Heupel and the program.

Iamaleava's decision gives Tennessee an early commitment from one of the nation's top young quarterback prospects and a landmark victory on the recruiting trail.

Iamaleava made his decision official in an Instagram post, choosing the Vols over the likes of Alabama, Georgia, and Oregon.

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A post shared by Nico Iamaleava (@nico_iamaleava8)

The pledge gives Tennessee its first 5-star commitment since 2015 and the program's first California signee since 2019, and puts a bow on a 10-month process in which Tennessee pursued the quarterback against stiff SEC competition.

What Nico Iamaleava said

"A big thing with Tennessee is the development at the quarterback position, and how friendly the offense is," Iamaleava said, via 247Sports.

"Josh Heupel is a great offensive-minded coach and has worked with some very good quarterbacks in the past."

The player added, "We talked about the scheme fit, and I think I could have a lot of success there. Those guys have had a lot of success in the past working with quarterbacks like Sam Bradford, Dillon Gabriel, McKenzie Milton and a few others, and I have a lot of confidence they could develop me, as well."

What it means for Tennessee

Iamaleava is by the far the biggest recruiting get for Josh Heupel at Tennessee. Coming into the decision, recruiting services projected the quarterback can finish as one of the top-rated prospects to ever sign with the Vols.

Iamaleava is the No. 3 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class, according to 247Sports, which ranks him as the third-best quarterback, as well. 

Prior to the player's decision, Tennessee placed No. 18 in the national football recruiting rankings, but afterwards jumped to the No. 10 overall position, ahead of Iowa and behind Louisville.

It's early in the 2023 cycle, of course, but Iamaleava's commitment puts Tennessee at third overall in the SEC, behind Arkansas and conference-leader Georgia.

2023 college football recruiting rankings

As of Nico Iamaleava's pledge on March 21

1. Notre Dame
2. Texas Tech
3. Arkansas
4. Georgia
5. Penn State
6. Baylor
7. Ohio State
8. Michigan
9. Louisville
10. Tennessee

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