Former Florida Gators and Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Urban Meyer has joined the growing list of those impressed by Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava following his standout performance last weekend.
During an appearance on *The Triple Option* this week, Meyer predicted that Tennessee will cover the -7.5 point spread against the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday night in Charlotte, with Iamaleava being a key factor in that prediction. Meyer also went a step further, identifying Tennessee as a team he believes will make the 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024.
“I went back and watched Tennessee, and they have a quarterback—I called [former USC QB] Matt Leinart and [former Notre Dame QB] Brady Quinn this morning after watching this guy—his name’s Nico Iamaleava,” Meyer said. “I’m telling you, I watched the whole game. Yes, it was Tennessee vs. Chattanooga, and they were clearly overmatched, but this guy, as far as body type and athleticism, is something else. The ball came out of his hand like a missile. He was a five-star product coming out of high school. I even asked Brady and Matt if he’s a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft.”
Meyer continued, “He’s obviously got another year left, but this guy is unbelievable. I know they had Joe Milton last year, but this guy is a monster. Because of him, I’m picking them to cover the spread against NC State, and I think they’ll be a playoff team because of this guy.”
Meyer, who has coached elite talents like Tim Tebow, Joe Burrow, and the Bosa brothers, knows what it takes to be a top-tier player. For Meyer to be this confident in Iamaleava after just a half of football against Chattanooga speaks volumes about the young quarterback’s potential.
While the 2024 season is still young, the buzz surrounding Iamaleava and the Vols is growing, and it’s starting to feel like Tennessee could be on the verge of an unforgettable season.
Urban Meyer says Vols QB Nico Iamaleava is a “monster” and he thinks Tennessee could be a playoff team because of Nico (🎥: The Triple Option) pic.twitter.com/HzJ58DGfvd
— zach ragan (@zachTNT) September 4, 2024
