PHILADELPHIA – Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Wednesday.
 
The Shaun Alexander Freshman Player of the Year Award is an honor given each year to the most outstanding freshman player in college football. Named after Shaun Alexander since 2018, this award recognizes the exceptional performance and impact made by these players on their respective teams throughout the season.

Iamaleava is one of 14 semifinalists for this year’s award, which includes just three quarterbacks and five players from the Southeastern Conference. He is the first Vol to be named a semifinalist.
 
A redshirt freshman from Long Beach, California, Iamaleava has quickly established himself as one of the top freshmen in the country. He has led Tennessee to a 7-1 record, including five home victories, a road win at then-No. 15/13 Oklahoma, and a neutral-site victory in the Duke’s Mayo Classic. Three of UT’s wins this season have come against ranked opponents at the time of the meeting, including victories over No. 24 NC State, at No. 15/13 Oklahoma and No. 7 Alabama.
 
His impressive performance this season has helped him stand out among his peers. He has already been named SEC Freshman of the Week three times, matching the school record set by Tyler Bray in 2010. Iamaleava’s accolades include a record-setting performance in his first home start, when he threw for 314 yards in the first half against Chattanooga, setting a Tennessee record for most passing yards in a half.
 
The signal-caller has continued to grow throughout the season with his best pure passing game of his young career coming in his most recent outing against Kentucky. He finished with career highs in completions (28) and attempts (38) for 292 yards and a touchdown.

The full list of semifinalists for this year’s award can be seen HERE.
 
Finalists for the 7th annual Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year award will be revealed on Dec. 4 and the winner of the award will be announced on Dec. 26. The formal presentation of this award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Friday, March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame.