Under-the-radar play shows an underrated element of Nico Iamaleava's game that should excite fans

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated 11/26/23

Tennessee Vols true freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava showed an element of his game on Saturday against the Vanderbilt Commodores that should greatly excite UT fans.

Nico is an elite talent that has a big arm, moves well in the pocket, and make plays with his legs when necessary.

And speaking of his legs, Nico showed on Saturday in Tennessee's win against Vanderbilt that not only can he make plays with his legs, but he's strong enough to break tackles and extend plays.

On an option play in the fourth quarter against the Commodores, Nico looked like he was about to be tackled for a loss. Instead, he was able to somehow stay on his feet while escaping the tackle and picking up the first down.

The play drew praise from SEC Network announcer Derek Mason, a former head coach at Vanderbilt.

Nico isn’t easy to tackle… pic.twitter.com/QRv96tXa4Y
— zach ragan (@zachtnt) November 26, 2023

Nico is going to continue to add some bulk to his frame ahead of the 2024 season. But it's obvious that his strength is already an underrated element of his game.

The talented young quarterback will have a lot on his plate next season as he takes over the Vols' offense, but it's clear that he has the skillset to thrive in the SEC.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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