Tennessee 
redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava was listed at a wiry 6-foot-6 and 206 pounds as a freshman in 2023, but he checked in at 220 pounds Friday as the Volunteers began their fifth spring under Josh Heupel.
The newest quarterback for the Vols, George MacIntyre, is already on a similar path. The former Brentwood Academy standout is listed at 6-6 and 190 but said he has already packed on nine pounds since enrolling early.
“My main goal is weight gain and getting stronger, and I think I’ve done a good job with that,” MacIntyre said in a news conference after Tennessee’s first of 15 allotted workouts. “I’m also getting a grasp on the offense, so it has been a big advantage to get here early and be able to do that.
I’m eating a lot. Eating is a job.”
The Vols will take this weekend off before conducting their second spring workout Monday morning.
Friday marked Heupel’s first gathering with the media since Dec. 21, when Tennessee fell 42-17 at eventual national champion Ohio State in the first round of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The Vols are 37-15 through Heupel’s first four seasons, which includes a 30-9 mark in the past three.
“It was great to get on the grass here as we start spring ball,” Heupel said. “The guys have had a great winter. We’ve got 27 new guys and 23 freshmen inside of our program, and I’m proud of what they’ve done as far as the strength and conditioning and the buildup to spring ball.
“Today was day one, and as you would expect, there was great energy.”
Iamaleava provides Tennessee instant stability with his 11-3 mark as the starter, and behind him on the depth chart are redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and MacIntyre. Heupel, to nobody’s shock, was asked to evaluate MacIntyre’s first spring practice.
Leave a Reply