Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been named one of the top players most likely to breakout this fall. Well, if he’s only that good, he may not be good enough.
Let’s start with potential. No one would argue that Iamaleava has the ability. That’s why Pro Football Focus named him as one of the top 10 candidates to breakout this season. If Iamaleava isn’t among the top 10 breakout players in college football this season, the Vols have problems.
That’s the position that Tennessee coach Josh Heupel has willingly put himself in with one of the highest rated (if not the highest rated) prospects to ever sign with the Vols. Heupel isn’t the only coach depending on a new quarterback with little depth behind him. Welcome to the NIL era.
Pro Football Focus wrote, “You’ll start hearing Iamaleava’s name a lot over the next few months…He has all the potential in the world. At 6-foot-6, he has a big arm and legit rushing ability.”
While all that’s true, Iamaleava doesn’t have much experience. However, I’m not sure that’s all that important with Tennessee coach Josh Heupel at the helm of the Vols’ offense. He showed he could alter his offense to suit any quarterback, as he was forced to do last season with Milton.
Heupel can make his offense simple in challenging environments, like a trip to Oklahoma in September, but Iamaleava may not even need a walker. He looked ready to run in the 35-0 win over Iowa in the Citrus Bowl on January.
There are a couple of things that could undermine Iamaleava. It seems a given to most that the Vols will have great running back play. They might, but I’d like to see it before I deem it a fact.
Former Vol Jaylen Wright turned in a magnificent year last season. He may not have been an electric runner but he maximized runs, which, with a strong offensive line, should be all the Vols need. However, Wright did wear on defenses. It remains to be seen if the Vols have that in their running back stable.
In fact, Iamaleava’s success may be more dependent on his teammates than his own ability. The Vols are expected to have a strong offensive line and a crew of explosive receivers. However, what if there’s an injury to the Vols’ razor-thin offensive line or wideout Bru McCoy isn’t completely healed up? What if receiver Dont’e Thornton doesn’t bounce back from a disappointing season or transfer Chris Brazzell II doesn’t pan out after setting expectations higher than a goalpost?
In fact, as odd as it seems, Iamaleava’s success is more out of his control than it is within his grasp based on various reports. I’m well aware that Iamaleava hasn’t faced an SEC team just yet, that Iowa was likely overrated and there have been plenty of busts over the years, but I’m at the the point in which I’d be stunned if Iamaleava wasn’t at least an All-SEC caliber player. So, it’s time for some other Vols to step up.
Elite Company: Iamaleava is listed alongside Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, Georgia tight end Oscar Delp, Oregon running back Jordan James, LSU receiver Karen Lacy, Michigan cornerback Ja’Den McBurrows, Southern California quarterback Miller Moss, Ohio State safety Sonny Styles, Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff, and Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman.
