- ABC News
- December 27, 2023
The Nico Iamaleava era is set to begin at Tennessee in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, as starting quarterback Joe Milton III has opted out of the Monday matchup with Iowa. Milton, a fifth-year senior, announced Wednesday on social media that he was skipping the game to begin preparing for the NFL draft and thanked his coaches, teammates and fans. "Thanks Vol Nation for everything. JoJo out," Milton posted, adding that he would be in Orlando, Florida, supporting the team this week. ESPN's Mel Kiper ranks Milton as the 10th-best quarterback in the 2024 NFL draft. This will be Iamaleava's first meaningful action for the Vols after he played in four games this season in mop-up duty. The 6-6, 206-pound Iamaleava was ranked as the No. 4 pocket passer nationally by ESPN out of Long Beach, California. He has been on campus for a year after arriving as an early enrollee and participating in practice for the Orange Bowl last December. "Guys are excited to get...