KNOXVILLE, Tenn. โ Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava was named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Maxwell Award, presented annually to the country's most outstanding college football player.
Iamaleava is one of 80 players to earn a spot on the preseason list and is the only player on the watch list who is not at least a sophomore in terms of athletic eligibility. He is one of 15 players from the SEC and one of 41 quarterbacks in the running to earn the prestigious award.
The Long Beach, CA native is entering his second season with the program and is expected to start for the Vols after serving as a backup last year.
As a true freshman, Iamaleava played in five matchups. However, his most impressive performance and only start for Tennessee came in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa. He led the Vols to a 35-0 shutout victory, throwing for 178 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.
Peyton Manning is the only former Vol to win the Maxwell Award. Hendon Hooker was a finalist in 2022, and Jalin Hyatt was a semifinalist in the same year.
