If local reports are true, then Tennessee’s chances of beating Georgia have raised significantly over the past day.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava appears set to play against the Bulldogs when the No. 7 Vols hope to upset No. 12 Georgia on Saturday in Sanford Stadium.
Iamaleava might or might not play against Georgia, but it won’t likely be his call nor will it be Tennessee coach Josh Heupel’s decision if his star redshirt freshman quarterback takes the field this week in Athens.
Medical officials will ultimately determine whether or not Iamaleava will play. Heupel has said all along that Iamaleava was pulled from the Mississippi State game for precautionary reasons and that he’ll be available for the Georgia game. However, what’s he supposed to say?
It would make no sense for Heupel to say that Iamaleava wouldn’t be available for the game against the Bulldogs. Moreover, Heupel has been overly optimistic, perhaps sporting some gamesmanship, with injuries in the past.
Heupel said center Cooper Mays would be ready to play against Florida in 2022 as Mays was recovering from a triple hernia operation. That didn’t happen and the Vols lost to the Gators despite likely having a better team.
Earlier this season, Heupel said that offensive tackle Lance Heard would play against Oklahoma. The redshirt freshman transfer from LSU didn’t even make the trip.
This all makes Tennessee’s injury report, which will be released late on Wednesday, all that more important. Heupel can mislead the media early in the week, but he probably doesn’t want to draw the ire of the SEC office by sending out a false participation report.
If Iamaleava can’t play on Saturday against Georgia, he would be replaced by backup senior quarterback Gaston Moore, who hasn’t started a game in his Tennessee career.
Oddsmakers seem to think that Iamaleava won’t play on Saturday. The Vols are approximately a double-digit underdog against the Bulldogs despite being higher ranked. Some in the national media have suggested that Iamaleava won’t play.
In truth, no one, probably not even Heupel nor Iamaleava, knows whether or not the Vols will have Iamaleava ready against the Bulldogs. Concussions are tricky. This one could upend the Vols chances to beat the Bulldogs for the first time since 2016.
The Vols certainly don’t want to play Iamaleava if he is still suffering from a concussion. Playing with such an ailment can increase chances of another concussion. The Vols don’t want to jeopardize Iamaleava’s future no matter how big one game might be. However, this game is pretty big.
