Joe Milton tutored highly touted freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava when he arrived on campus for Tennessee football. Everything Milton learned from years around college football, including much time spent with Hendon Hooker, translated to lessons passed down to Iamaleava.
When he took the field as a first-year starter for the Vols last fall, outputs mimicked a roller coaster. Heading into his second season as the leader of the offense, Iamaleava claims it is his improvement in the leadership department that has made the most difference.
“I think just for me getting out in front of the whole team really,” Iamaleava said. “I got comfortable with speaking to my individual position groups and the offense. I think when it just comes to letting the whole offense and defense and the whole team hear your voice, I think that’s been the biggest thing for me, just stepping out my shell man.”
It was a different story last season when Iamaleava led the Vols to their first College Football Playoff appearance.
“I wasn’t very comfortable speaking in front of large crowds and stuff like that,” Iamaleava said. “But I’ve taken that next step and that’s something I’m continuing to work on.”
Offensive coordinator Joey Halzle agrees that it’s now Iamaleava’s turn to take over the voice of the locker room.
“A guy like him can step in and really take it over and lead it his way,” Halzle said. “He can’t be fake, he can’t be something you’re not, but you do have to be willing to step out, step in front of the team and address guys and clean things up especially when they’re not right.”
Now in his third year of spring football, Iamaleava is looking to continue building rapport with a team full of new guys. Tennessee football added two transfers on the offensive line and a five-star true freshman at tackle, David Sanders, to reshape the blockers in front of Iamaleava. In the receiving room, turnover was imminent.
Returnees include Chris Brazzell II, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley. Iamaleava made it a point to improve the connection with the guys he already had, and that started with a visit to California for Matthews.
“He came out to Cali and trained with me a little bit,” Iamaleava said. “I got some extra reps in with him out there. Really just — we got a new scheme in and just him dialing into the new scheme and just us building our rapport.”
As for the other targets in the room, Alabama transfer Amari Jefferson is the only other player who has previously stepped foot on a college campus. True freshman Travis Smith Jr. and Radarious Jackson are participating in spring practices while signee Joakim Dodson has not made it to Knoxville yet.
“I’ve taken that leadership role and trying to lead the young guys in the receiver room,” Iamaleava said. “We got a lot of young guys in there and obviously Chris Brazzell was taking that next step and taking lead to that receiver room. I asked him to watch over those young guys and make sure they’re ready to go when their number gets called so I think just collectively, us as a whole, us doing it together has been a big part for us this spring.”
Last season’s run instilled some of Iamaleava’s leadership skills. Center Cooper Mays’ relationship with the young quarterback allowed the transition to a more outspoken role a little more seamless, alongside wide receiver Bru McCoy. The two were imperative in his development.
“Always told me to be myself, man,” Iamaleava said. “They know I’m not the loudest they know I’m not the rah-rah guy to get everybody, but at the same time, I need to be in certain instances. They just told me always be myself, man, you don’t got to be nobody else. Don’t change yourself to try and portray this image of a good leader. Just to be myself and I feel like I’ve been doing a good job with that.”
This year, Iamaleava credits his tight end room for helping with the loss of Mays and McCoy. Miles Kitselman and Ethan Davis have been the guys that he leans on for the leadership aspect now.
Iamaleava’s improvement will be on full display throughout spring practice. Tennessee football will wrap up the spring when the “Orange and White Game” takes center stage on April 12.
