Senior offensive lineman Cooper Mays announced on Dec. 15 he will return to Tennessee in 2024.
Mays met with media on Friday ahead of the Vols’ matchup against Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day. He discussed freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava who is set to make his first career start versus the Hawkeyes.
“He has been the guy all throughout bowl prep,” Mays said. “He has done well for himself. Like coach (Joey Halzle) said, he does not really handle himself like a young guy. We have had a few weeks here to gel and come up and give him a chance to get ready for the game. He has done a really good job, and he has done the best he can with it.”
The 6-foot-6, 206-pound freshman signal-caller appeared in four games for Tennessee during the 2023 regular-season.
Iamaleava completed 16-of-26 passing attempts for 163 yards and one touchdown. He also recorded 44 rushing yards on five attempts.
Kickoff between the Vols and Hawkeyes is slated for 1 p.m. EST at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
