Tennessee freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava holds his niece while accepting the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.

-- Tennessee Athletics/Utsports.Com

The Nico Iamaleava era has officially launched. After making a few brief appearances this season, the heralded freshman quarterback made his first career start for the University of Tennessee football team in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Facing one of the top defenses in the country, Iamaleava showcased his composure, potential and athleticism by rushing for three touchdowns and throwing another to lead No. 21 UT past No. 17 35-0 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

Iamaleava completed 12 of 19 passes for 151 yards while rushing 15 times for 27 yards to earn Most Valuable Player honors. Iowa (10-4) had only allowed four rushing touchdowns all season and Iamaleava nearly matched that in three quarters against the Big Ten West champion.

Iamaleava, who played in four games this season in mop-up duty, is still eligible for a redshirt season. The bowl game does not count against the redshirt minimum of four games.

“Felt great, man. Finally, to play a whole game, I have not done that in a while,” Iamaleava said. “Felt good to get back out there and get my feet wet. I am proud of the guys and how they played.”

Iamaleava was the fourth UT quarterback to start a bowl game as a true freshman, joining Tyler Bray (2010 Music City Bowl vs. North Carolina), Casey Clausen (2001 Cotton Bowl vs. Kansas State) and Peyton Manning (1994 Gator Bowl vs. Virginia Tech).

The 6-foot-6, 206-pound Iamaleava was ranked as the No. 4 pocket passer nationally by ESPN coming out of high school in Long Beach, California. He arrived as an early enrollee and participated in practice for the 2023 Orange Bowl.

Joe Milton III, the regular starting quarterback for the Vols (9-4) this season, opted to sit out the Citrus Bowl to prepare for the NFL draft. Milton was in Orlando with the team and stood beside Iamaleava during warmups to provide support.

Iowa defense overmatched

The Hawkeyes entered the game ranked No. 4 in scoring defense (13.2 points per game), No. 5 in total defense (274.8 yards per game), No. 8 in passing defense (172.2 ypg) and No. 13 in rushing defense (102.5 ypg).

But Iamaleava hardly looked fazed.

Iamaleava scored the game’s first three touchdowns on runs. He opened the second quarter with a 19-yard keeper, followed by a 3-yard draw to give the Vols a 14-0 lead. In the third quarter, he scored on a 2-yard plunge for a 21-0. The Hawkeyes had previously allowed more than 20 points just twice this season - in their two losses to No. 1 Michigan and No. 10 Penn State.

After James Pearce Jr. returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown, Iamaleava found tight end McCallan Castles for an 18-yard touchdown. That was more than enough offense against an anemic Iowa attack that averaged just 16.6 points and 239.3 yards per game with only 22 total touchdowns scored in the regular season.

“There was nothing that was too big for him,” UT head coach Josh Heupel said of Iamaleava. “Never got rattled. Very composed, in control, communication, controlling the run game, just did an unbelievable job, decision-making, and then made plays with his feet, as well.”

Despite missing seven players in the secondary who all entered the transfer portal, the Vols posted their first shutout of the season and finished with five sacks to help make Iamaleava’s starting debut a bit less stressful and help the Vols win their second straight bowl game.

“We always want to come out and dominate at a really high level no matter who we are playing,” Pearce Jr. says. “Knowing we are playing a tough defense, I guess the best defense won.”

QB supported by family, peers

Iamaleava got to savor the historic start and bowl win with his family. He hugged his parents after the game and held his niece in his arms onstage as he accepted the MVP award.

“It was a very special moment for me and my family,” he says. “It is their first time having their son playing at this elite college level. I think they were just proud to see me go out there and play.”

During the game, former UT star quarterback Hendon Hooker posted on social media, “8 is The Chosen One.” Iamaleava said having the support of the UT QB fraternity has been “huge.”

“I think Hendon and Joe, when I first got here, they welcomed me with open arms,” Iamaleava says. “It feels good to get love from guys like that, guys that set this university at the standard it is right now. I am really appreciative of those guys.”

It was only one start, but Iamaleava’s performance will likely have UT fans dreaming of a bright future filled with wins, titles and bigger bowl games in years to come. Iamaleava’s presence behind center could also help attract recruits and transfers to bolster UT’s roster with more talent.

“I believe he is going to be a great, dynamic playmaker,” Heupel says. “I thought he handled himself composed all day long. Subtle things of breaking the huddle, communication inside the huddle, controlling the run game, his eyes were in the right place. Great to see a young guy go out and perform in that way in his first career start.”