Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Monday he felt that quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who suffered a blow to the head in the 33-14 win over Mississippi State this past weekend, would be in “great shape for Saturday” when the Vols take on Georgia in Athens.
Iamaleava didn’t play in the second half against Mississippi State and underwent an evaluation by doctors for what sources told ESPN were concussion-like symptoms. Iamaleava did not return to the Tennessee sideline for the second half.
Heupel told reporters that Iamaleava was “with the team and had a really good day” Monday morning during team activities and meetings. The main practices start Tuesday. Heupel referenced the SEC availability report, which will first be released Wednesday night, to monitor any updates on Iamaleava as the week progresses.
Iamaleava was having his most productive outing against an SEC team this season before leaving the game against Mississippi State. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 174 yards, no interceptions and a pair of touchdown passes as Tennessee built a 20-7 halftime lead. In Iamaleava’s previous five SEC games, he had accounted for three touchdowns and turned it over five times. He was also sacked 15 times in those five games.
Redshirt senior Gaston Moore filled in for Iamaleava last week in the second half and finished 5-of-8 for 38 yards with no interceptions and no touchdowns. Moore, who started his career at UCF under Heupel, was also forced into the Alabama game for a play earlier this season after Iamaleava went down with an injury and threw an interception.
The Georgia-Tennessee matchup is critical for both teams’ playoff chances. The Bulldogs (7-2, 5-2) are trying to avoid their first back-to-back losses since Kirby Smart’s first season in Athens in 2016. They’re coming off a 28-10 loss at Ole Miss last weekend. The Vols (8-1, 5-1) are trying to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Bulldogs.