BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Following its 36-23 rivalry win at Vanderbilt over the weekend, Tennessee had a pair of offensive players earn SEC weekly awards on Monday afternoon in redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava and senior offensive lineman Andrej Karic.
Iamaleava and Karic played major roles in the Volunteers’ impressive offensive output against the Commodores, which resulted in a 538 total yards (257 passing, 281 rushing), marking their third game breaking the 500-yard threshold in 2024.
Iamaleava was named the SEC Co-Freshman of the Week after accounting for 299 yards to total offense and posting his second consecutive four-touchdown effort through the air, finishing 12-of-17 for 220 yards. The California native is the first Vol with back-to-back games of four or more touchdown passes since Tyler Bray did so in three-straight games during the 2012 season.
With the win, Iamaleava became UT’s first signal caller to win 10 games in a regular season since Casey Clausen posted the same record (10-2) during his senior year in 2003. He has been tabbed the SEC Freshman of the Week four times this year, setting a Tennessee single-season record.
Adding to his impressive list of accolades this season, Iamaleava was also named to the Davey O’Brien Award’s Great 8 List for Week 14 following his impressive performance in Nashville.
Karic was recognized as the SEC Co-Offensive Lineman of the Week for the first time in his career after helping pave the way and protect for a Tennessee offense that rolled up 538 total yards and 281 rushing yards, both of which were season highs in conference play.
The Texas native played 74 snaps in a start at left guard and did not allow a sack, a pressure, a penalty or a quarterback hit in the win over Vanderbilt on Saturday. Karic was the highest graded offensive lineman in the game according to PFF. The Vols’ total yards and rushing yards were the most allowed by the Commodores in a game this season.
In total, Tennessee has accumulated 12 SEC weekly awards this season, which is the second most in a single season in program history behind the 2022 team’s 15 honors.
