Tennessee football nabbed a commitment from five-star quarterback Nicholaus Iamaleava on Monday, providing a crown jewel to its growing 2023 class. Iamaleava, the No. 4 quarterback and No. 7 overall recruit in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports Composite rankings, picked the Volunteers over Miami and Georgia.
"They had everything I was looking for," Iamaleava told 247Sports' Greg Biggins. "I met some incredible people, not just with the football program but everyone we met was so welcoming to us and made me feel like home."
"It looks like a really fun offense to play in," he continued. "I'll be back there for the spring game and looking forward to that but I've studied what they do and feel I'll be able to fit in really well."
The Long Beach Poly (California) product ranks as one of the most talented quarterback prospects in what is already an elite quarterback class featuring Arch Manning and Malachi Nelson. Even more notably, Iamaleava surpasses former All-American Mike Munoz to become fifth-best recruit at Tennessee in the 247Sports recruiting era. He is the top quarterback recruit to join the Vols and would be the first five-star quarterback to sign with Tennessee since James Banks in 2002. Adding Iamaleava is a coup for second-year head coach Josh Heupel after a promising 7-6 campaign in 2021.
"Iamaleava just continues to get better and his upside is as high as anyone in the '23 class," 247Sports National Recruiting Analyst Biggins wrote in a scouting report in which he compared Iamaleava to former Heisman winner Marcus Mariota. "He has an athletic 6-5 frame and is not just a talented quarterback but a gifted volleyball player as well ... there are zero character concerns with him and he's a future captain who other players gravitate towards. There is not a throw on the field he can't make."
Iamaleava's commitment immediately jumpstarts the Vols' 2023 recruiting class, pushing them from No. 18 to No. 10 in the nation and No. 3 in the SEC. He joins top-100 tight end Ethan Davis as blue-chip prospects in the five-man class. With Iamaleava in the fold, more top-level offensive players could soon be on the way.
Tennessee's offense ranked among the most explosive in the nation, especially after switching to quarterback Hendon Hooker. The Volunteers ranked No. 9 nationally with 474.9 yards per game, while Hooker completed 68.2% of his passes for 2,945 yards passing, 31 touchdowns and three interceptions. Iamaleava has a chance to put up elite numbers in Heupel's offense.
