When freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava scored his first rushing touchdown for the University of Tennessee Volunteers on Monday on the opening play of the second quarter, Dayne Davis helped pave the way.
A former star at Sullivan East High School, Davis started at right tackle as the Volunteers overpowered Iowa for a 35-0 victory in the Citrus Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
Iamaleava rushed for three TDs and also threw a touchdown pass as UT rolled up 383 yards against Iowa’s stout defense.
“It was cool to be out there with Nico when he got his first TD,” Davis said. “Everyone was really happy for him. To be able to open up the hole for him was fun. Just seeing the play develop, the crowd get loud, all of it.”
“As a group, we just had to get in the groove of the game. Hats off to Iowa, a hard-nosed defense that plays really hard. But I feel like once we got in our groove as a group we were able to block well in the run game and protect when needed.”
How did this rate with some other bowl trips Davis had made?
“It was a great experience. The last time I started a bowl game was the Music City Bowl in 2021 [a loss to Purdue] and I still have a bitter taste from that game,” Davis said. “Just being able to do what we did, rushing for more than 230 yards I believe, on the nation’s fourth-best defense was an accomplishment for sure. Just like I’d say any other time, getting to suit up and play with that T on my helmet is a blessing in itself.”
Davis started against Georgia and Vanderbilt this season as well and his performance in the latter contest earned him Southeastern Conference offensive lineman of the week honors.
He still has a season of eligibility remaining.
“I plan on coming back to Tennessee for a sixth year,” Davis said. “I’ve always been a Vol. I’d never want to be anywhere else. I’ll finish my college career here and finish with two degrees after graduating this coming December with my master’s in Human Resources in management.”
