I typically don’t believe in coincidences when it comes to recruiting. There are always factors at play other than serendipity when prospects chose their respective schools.
That’s why I’m thinking Nico Iamaleava had an impact on Tennessee’s football program simply by being around this weekend. Since April, the Vols received just one commitment before Iamaleava and a dozen other official visitors showed up on campus this weekend. Now, two more players have pledged to play for the Vols, giving Tennessee 13 commitments for their 2023 class.
Iamaleava, who committed to Tennessee in March of this year, has made no secret about the fact that he’s recruiting for the Vols whenever and wherever he can. He reportedly used his recruiting skills at various football camps, as well as on campus this weekend per multiple reports. It’s certainly no coincidence that the Vols had four prospects commit in April, just after Iamaleava decided to announce his decision to play for Tennessee.
Iamaleava’s primary target over the weekend was Francis Mauigoa, a five-star offensive lineman from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Iamaleava made no secret that he was after Mauigoa during the official visit. This tweet popped up on Saturday with the pair posing for the camera during their visit:
Mauigoa hasn’t committed just yet; however, he was willing to say that he would announce his college decision on July 4 as he was headed back home on Sunday from his official visit to Knoxville. That has to be a good sign, right?
Is it a coincidence that Mauigoa is ready to end his recruitment just after taking an official visit to Tennessee and meeting with Iamaleava?
“It was very important,” Iamaleava said when asked about spending time with Mauigoa on a video posted by Volquest.com. “It was mainly pitching the (player) development part. I told him about that part.
His parents got down here so we just got to spend time together. I think that was the main thing, for his parents to get down here, to see Knoxville and see what we’re all about.”
The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Mauigoa would be a strong addition to Tennessee’s 2023 class. He is rated as the No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 9 overall prospect in the nation.
Mauigoa has also taken official visits to Alabama, Florida, Miami and Southern California. However, he said the connection between his and Iamaleava’s family was significant. That can only help the Vols.
Iamaleava showed up for his official visit just like Tennessee fans expected. The five-star quarterback commitment was more of a recruiter than he was a recruit.
“It’s always great to be back on Rocky Top, back in Knoxville,” Iamaleava said. “We had fun with the recruits, had fun on the lake. It was a good time.”
Notice that Iamaleava said, “we”. His commitment doesn’t seem to be in any doubt.
The lake adventure was the standout for Iamaleava during his latest trip to Tennessee. Rated as the No. 4 prospect in the country, Iamaleava has been on campus several times, but this was the first time he ventured into one of the many bodies of water in Knoxville.
“I didn’t know how fun the lakes were,” Iamaleava said. “I think the lakes are my new favorite thing to do. I enjoy it more than I did the ocean. I loved the lakes and tubing. All that is fun.”
If Iamaleava took his whole family on the lake, it must have been a pretty big boat. The 6-5, 195-pound prospect was joined on the Tennessee trip by his seven siblings, his parents and his grandfather. Even though these are a few of the people that Iamaleava is interested in bringing to Tennessee, he’s focused mostly on UT’s top prospects.
“The vibe was great,” Iamaleava said when asked about how the visitors got along during the trip. “A lot of these guys haven’t really met me in person so I was getting a lot of mixed emotions from a couple of the guys.”
Perhaps it’s the ranking, the long hair or his outgoing personality, but some prospects thought that Iamaleava would be cocky. He quickly laid those presumptions to rest.
“I don’t know what portrays myself to be a cocky dude, but it was good for them to finally meet me and see what it was actually like (being around me),” Iamaleava said.
As strange as it may sound, football will take a bit of a back seat for Iamaleava. A highly rated volleyball prospect, Iamaleava said he will focus on volleyball nationals while he tries to put on about 15 pounds with proper diet and an intense weight room regimen. For now, his senior season at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly Tech High School is not at the forefront of his mind.
Maybe Tennessee can set up another visit for Iamaleava before the season starts, especially after the Vols picked up another couple of commitments, in part, to Iamaleava’s influence. NCAA rules won’t allow another official visit, but surely Tennessee can work something out. With 13 commitments for the 2023 class, the Vols could use another coincidence or two.
After all, four-star offensive tackle Shamurad Umarov is still considering the Vols, along with Georgia, LSU and Michigan State. Umarov, like Iamaleava, was in Knoxville for his official visit this weekend. The 6-6, 337-pound prospect from Denmark High School in Alpharetta, Ga. didn’t go unnoticed by Iamaleava.
