Cooper Mays return to Tennessee means help for five-star QB Nico Iamaleava
Tennessee center Cooper Mays’ return for the 2024 season is big for the Vols in a lot of ways, but the biggest is arguably for quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
The freshman quarterback will take control of Josh Heupel’s offense in 2024 and with Mays and his 30 starts returning for a final year, Iamaleava has a security blanket in front of him to help him be more comfortable physically and mentally.
“I think the biggest thing I can do is provide comfortability,” Mays said. “I think I can make stuff a little bit easier on him just the day in, day out stuff when it comes to practice and helping. ID stuff. I’ve done that stuff for around here for a long time with even more experienced guys than Nico. So just playing my part to the highest level I can and then in leadership, help him out and support him and put him on a pedestal a little bit. So just do my part at a high level.”
The former On3 national player of the year, Iamaleava, has played in just four games to this point in his Tennessee career going 16 for 26 for 163 yards and a touchdown. In the season finale against Vanderbilt, Iamaleava was 9 for 12 for 66 yards. Iamaleava played in two games in November going 14 of 21 for 152 yards and a touchdown. He had 3 rushes for 40 yards as he continues to learn the offense.
“You can tell he’s a great person. He’s very humble and eager to learn and ready for his opportunity,” Mays offered. “You can tell he has been raised very well by his family and by his parents. Just a really good kid. And that’s the foundation of it all. Just being a good person and then that gives you a big chance to do anything you want in football. He’s a hard worker and then obviously very talented, and that kind of goes without saying, but he’s gonna continue to get better every year here.”
Mays has gotten better every year he’s been at Tennessee and he coming back for one final season looking to improve and looking for finish things the way he want to finish them.
“Main thing is just stay healthy this (next) season and start every game. And be a really good leader for everybody around me. I think I make people around me better, so just keep doing that and keep getting better. And whatever I do, get stronger and more explosive and everything. I just try to get better at everything that I do.
“I love it around here and I love being a Volunteer. And no better way to finish it than try to finish it the right way and be here with my brothers.”
