If you want to assume that Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is a lock this season as a top-flight replacement for former UT quarterback Joe Milton, I’ll give you that. However, there are other areas in which it’s hard to have as much confidence in, that is when compared to the smooth signal-caller from California.
Let’s start with the Vols’ secondary, which is replacing about a dozen players and all of its starters last season. Here is what Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said about that crew following the Vols’ second scrimmage of the preseason on Thursday.
“I’ve said it from the beginning of the offseason to our coaches and our players,” Heupel said, “it can’t just be one guy at one position. We’re going to have to play multiple guys. It’s just the nature of being in this league and the game that we play.”
Heupel said he has been particularly pleased with the last week of practice, since the Vols held its first scrimmage of the preseason on Aug. 9.
“I really do like the length (and) athleticism,” Heupel said. “I feel like this last block since our last scrimmage that continued to be better in their fundamentals technique, assignment and discipline within the structure of the defense. We’ve got to continue to get better. Good teams do. That’s during the course of the season. It’s here as we’re finishing up training camp. But really like what we’ve seen from that group.”
One Vol that will be counted on as part of the rotation and, most likely, as a starter is freshman defensive back Boo Carter. Tennessee found itself in a pinch when projected starter Jourdan Thomas suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first week of preseason practice. That would seemingly open the door for Carter to start immediately at the Star position, a linebacker/safety hybrid role that is considered one of the more difficult positions to learn on the Vols’ defense.
“Playmaker that’s extremely physical,” Heupel said when asked of Carter. “Plays extremely hard. I think the biggest area of growth for Boo has just been continued growth in playing within the scope and scheme of the defense. Alignment, assignment and his physical traits will take over from there.”
Tennessee will also have to replace two productive tight ends from last year’s squad. The Vols have turned to Alabama senior transfer Miles Kitselman, Notre Dame junior Holden Staes and redshirt freshman Ethan Davis.
“We’re going have to play multiple guys at that position,” Heupel said. “All three of those guys are going to play a lot of snaps for us. As we began our tenure here, we’ve had to navigate some things and that room’s probably been thinner at times than you would want it to be, but I really like the three guys that we got in there. All those guys who are capable of playing at a championship level.”
Apparently, Iamaleava isn’t the only replacement capable of such.
