Tennessee’s loss to Arkansas was painful in many ways. It may eventually cost the Vols a spot in the College Football Playoff and continues to draw coach Josh Heupel’s effectiveness on the road into question. However, there’s a bigger concern afoot than just that.

The most disturbing aspect to come out of the loss to the Razorbacks is with quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is the short and long-term future for Tennessee’s football team. Well, at least that’s the plan.

Iamaleava, who completed 16 of 28 passes for just 156 yards and no touchdowns, seemed befuddled at times on Saturday. I can’t blame him. He was under constant duress, as was evident by the four sacks that the Vols gave up to Arkansas. However, there was one play that was eerily familiar to Tennessee fans – and probably no one else, because I’ve only seen such a play two times in my life and both involved the Vols.

Iamaleava ended the game in a strangely similar fashion to former Vol quarterback Joe Milton when Tennessee lost to Ole Miss in 2021. Both quarterbacks inexplicably ran out of bounds with no time left on the clock. I argued that Milton’s play at the time was evidence that he would never be a star for the Vols despite his obvious physical gifts. I was correct in that assumption.

Would it be contradictory for me not to say the same thing about Iamaleava, who I thought would be a Heisman Trophy candidate at some point during his career and likely this year? Absolutely. However, I still think Iamaleava can be a star. First, here is what Iamaleava is dealing with, which was far more than Milton faced during his career.

There is certainly a chance that things could go awry with Iamaleava, who has a mountain of pressure on him from NIL deals that include $2-million just to come to Tennessee from California and others, such as Beats By Dre deals, that have come along since he’s been a Vol. 

Could Iamaleava fold under the pressure? Certainly. However, I don’t believe that will be the case and I certainly don’t believe one play will define him. Still, the facts aren’t necessarily in his favor.

Iamaleava ran out of bounds in a game in which he was supposedly well-prepared to play. That’s actually more troubling than Milton’s play against the Rebels two years ago. If you recall, Milton was in the game for former Vol quarterback Hendon Hooker in the final moments after Hooker had been injured with 18 seconds left to play. 

The scene was pretty frantic as the Vols were trying to score in the final moments, which included debris being thrown on the field towards Ole Miss, which was led by former UT coach Lane Kiffin. Milton playing frenetic shouldn’t have been a surprise in retrospect. He clearly wasn’t equipped to handle that amount of pressure, which proved true throughout his career. 

Speaking of pressure. Ole Miss logged five sacks against the Vols in that infamous game in 2021. Therefore, no one can argue that Iamaleava faced more heat than Tennessee’s quarterbacks did against the Rebels that day.

Iamaleava’s play against Arkansas is actually more disconcerting considering he’s been prepped for nearly two years to be Tennessee’s starting quarterback, ever since he arrived on campus in December 2022. Iamaleava has been the clear-cut starter for the Vols all season and certainly was healthy enough, despite the Vols allowing four sacks on Saturday, to finish the game – out of bounds.

I’m also wondering if Iamaleava can be a game-changer at quarterback when things go bad, as they did in Fayetteville, Ark. Other generational talents, like Florida quarterback Tim Tebow and Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, made plays as underclassmen that changed games, especially late in big-time SEC contests. Iamaleava didn’t do that and actually looked uncomfortable running the football late in the game. 

There was no improvisation from Iamaleava, other than a 42-yard completion on the final drive that, frankly, was more about receiver Dont’e Thornton making a play in coverage than it was about a laser-accurate throw. Iamaleava, who ranks eighth in the SEC in passing efficiency, would have just had 104 yards passing had it not been for that play. Yuck. That’s not what a Heupel offense is supposed to be, which is a part of the problem.

I’ve got Iamaleava’s back and here’s why. I believe there are two other areas which undermined the redshirt freshman against the Razorbacks: coaching and recruiting. Both ultimately fall under Heupel’s watch.

The Vols obviously didn’t have any depth at offensive tackle when they beat Oklahoma earlier this season. Now, it’s hard not to wonder if the Vols have any competent offensive tackles at all. LSU transfer Lance Heard was supposed to be the answer at left tackle, but that hasn’t been the case. 

Starting right tackle John Campbell Jr., has also struggled at right tackle, which shouldn’t be a surprise as the senior has constantly battled injuries throughout his career. Looking for another answer? There really isn’t one. 

Senior Dayne Davis is a great utility back-up, but not up to SEC standards by most accounts, especially after he struggled against Oklahoma.  Larry Johnson III could eventually be great, but he is just a sophomore. That’s about it.

That lack of consistent play at offensive tackles should have been addressed before the Arkansas game and, last I checked, Iamaleava isn’t in charge of the Vols’ starting lineup. That’s on Heupel, who should have helped his struggling tackles with more of the famed 12-personnel, which consists of two tight ends that could help the Vols protect Iamaleava. 

The 12-personnel offense was effective against Oklahoma. Why didn’t the Vols rely on that throughout the game against the Razorbacks? I only have one answer to that. Heupel wants to win his way.

I’m not sure that Heupel is comfortable unless he has at least three receivers in the game and a vertical offense that can scare opposing defenses. Well, here’s the odd thing. Arkansas was afraid of Tennessee’s deep passing game, which is why they often dropped into coverage against the Vols. That left the middle of the field wide open for much of the game. Yet the Vols didn’t go there. 

That made sense last season with Milton, who struggled with his accuracy, but is a head scratcher with Iamaleava and his accurate throwing arm at the helm. How about a slant every once in awhile? Nope, that wasn’t in Heupel’s bag of tricks.

Therefore, I’m not as concerned about Iamaleava as I am Heupel. Sure, there is plenty of concern to go around. However, recruiting is the foundation of any program and game planning is the key to making players successful. Iamaleava isn’t in charge of either of those. 

Tennessee’s entire offense also has to be party to blame. Running back Dylan Sampson said the Vols were “lackadaisical” in their approach during the bye week leading up to the Arkansas game. That led to the Vols’ offense being “antsy” and “frantic” in the final moments of the Arkansas game. Those are his words, not mine. That’s on all of Tennessee’s players, not just Iamaleava.

While some might question Iamaleava’s calmness under pressure following the Arkansas game, I believe that’s exactly what the Vols need. Iamaleava wasn’t the problem against Arkansas. Heupel was. Now, the pressure is on him.