What you saw out of Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava on Saturday was just the beginning. We can all agree on that. There’s one big reason why and you probably haven’t considered it nearly enough.
We can also agree that Iamaleava has all the physical skills and mental ability to be an elite football player. However, he has something else that is more valuable than his mobility, arm, accuracy, quick release, mental acumen and any other attributes that he is very deserving of. Simply put, Iamaleava is a leader and that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“I tell you this,” Tennessee receiver coach Kelsey Pope said this week. “I played quarterback in high school and college and I played receiver at a high level for a long time. I’ve seen a handful of guys that receivers want to go play for, and you can see it, you can sense it. They love playing for that guy. Absolutely love playing for him.
“It’s infectious in practice. It’s obviously easy in the game because the crowd’s there and there’s adrenaline, but they absolutely love playing for that guy. And as talented as he is, he’s an even better teammate and a better leader. That’s a testament to him and the growth that he’s shown since coming on campus.”
Iamaleava can come across as reserved or quiet in public. That’s probably somewhat the case in the locker room. As a redshirt freshman, it would be hard for anyone to come in and be considered an “Al Wilson” kind of leader with a veteran roster surrounding him.
Speaking of former Vols, Hendon Hooker was often cited as a great leader and a quarterback that Tennessee’s players wanted to play for. The same wasn’t said nearly as often about former Vol Joe Milton III. No, Milton wasn’t disliked, but it was apparent that the players on Tennessee’s roster didn’t have the same faith in Milton that they did with Hooker or that they have now with Iamaleava. That’s not meant to disparage Milton; it’s just a fact. Players see each other in practice all the time. They know who can play at a high level and who can’t. Milton couldn’t.
That makes me wonder why Iamaleava didn’t play last season, but that’s old news. Tennessee navigated a season, somewhat successfully, with a quarterback that didn’t have the skills to run Tennessee coach Josh Heupel’s offense, which relies on quick processing skills, accuracy and some running ability. However, that’s water under the bridge. With a true leader at quarterback, the Vols are a different team than they were last year. That could show up in a number of ways very soon.
First, let’s start with the obvious. Talented teams often dip when playing lessor opponents. That certainly didn’t happen last week when the Vols thumped Chattanooga 69-3. Championship worthy teams can tighten up in big games. Iamaleava being a calm, cool, collected leader should help when those games roll around, such as this weekend, when the Vols play No. 24 N.C. State.
Tennessee doesn’t have to have one of its best leaders at quarterback to be elite. The Vols won a national championship in 1998 with a new quarterback, Tee Martin, that was also somewhat quiet when the cameras were rolling. However, his teammates respected him for staying around when Peyton Manning decided to return for his senior season in 1997. Iamaleava has earned his respect in a different way.
Iamaleava has worked hard, been productive in practice and games and never griped last season when he surely thought he could play better than Milton. Yes, Iamaleava is a quarterback, but his more important role could be being a leader for the Vols. No offense to the Mocs, but that begins in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday.
