Depending on your vantage point, the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl pitting the Iowa Hawkeyes against the Tennessee Volunteers might have just got all the more entertaining.

Redshirt senior quarterback Joe Milton III announced his decision to opt out of the Citrus Bowl on Wednesday.

“Playing inside Club Neyland was amazing—the energy, the noise and especially Running Through the ‘T.’ I’m going to miss it all. Playing in the NFL has always been my dream since I was 4 years old. Now, it’s time to turn those dreams into reality as I begin preparing for the 2024 NFL draft. Thanks Vol Nation for everything. JoJo out,” Milton wrote in his social media announcement.

Enter highly-touted freshman Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava. What all do we know about the Vols’ freshman signal-caller?

Nico Iamaleava comes to Tennessee by way of Warren High School in Downey, Calif. The 6-foot-6, 206 pound quarterback was one of the nation’s prized recruits in the 2023 class.

In fact, On3 had Iamaleava rated as the No. 1 player in the 2023 class. Per 247Sports, Iamaleava was a five-star signee, the nation’s No. 2 player overall, the No. 2 quarterback in the country and the top player from The Golden State. Rivals similarly ranked Iamaleava as the No. 2 player nationally, as the No. 2 quarterback and as the top player from Cali.

ESPN ranked Iamaleava the lowest, ranking him as a four-star signee. Iamaleava checked in as the No. 3 player from California, as the No. 4 quarterback and as the No. 23 player overall per ESPN.

Joe Milton III started all 12 of Tennessee’s regular season games. That means this is Nico Iamaleava’s first career start.

Iamaleava has appeared in four games thus far this season, completing 16-of-26 passes for 163 yards with one 19-yard touchdown pass to McCallan Castles in Tennessee’s 59-3 win over UConn on Nov. 4.

Iamaleava’s most extended action came in the regular season finale versus Vanderbilt where he completed 9-of-12 passes for 66 yards in the Vols’ 48-24 victory.

Iamaleava also made appearances in Tennessee’s 49-13 season-opening win over Virginia and their 45-14 triumph over UTSA. He has also carried the football five times for 44 yards.