Tennessee’s offense needs plenty of replacement parts to make up for thousands of yards of production from last season. Addressing the quantifiable, however, isn’t the main concern. There is actually a more pressing matter afoot.
The Vols will lose three of their strongest leaders from last year’s team just on offense. Center Cooper Mays, running back Dylan Sampson and receiver Bru McCoy are off to the NFL. That leads a massive void for UT.
However, things could get better if Tennessee can find the right leaders for their offense, which begs the question: Isn’t it time for quarterback Nico Iamaleava to take the reigns? He’s now entering his second year as the starter and third with the program.
When you factor in all the stories related to his NIL payments, the level of faith the coaches initially showed in him when he arrived on campus and just his talent in general, it makes perfect sense for UT’s signal-caller to take over where the Vols are currently lacking.
Tennessee has consistently had strong leadership under Josh Heupel as he enters his fifth season as head coach. Hendon Hooker was the unquestioned leader of Tennessee’s offense once he finally took over the reigns in 2021. He then led the Vols’ offense to a record-breaking year in 2022. Mays, McCoy and Sampson took over after Hooker headed off to the NFL.
That whole transition worked out quite nicely. No, the Vols weren’t perfect on offense, but there was no shortage of accountability thanks to the Vols’ leaders on that side of the ball. Now, they’re gone, and one has to wonder who leads the Vols moving forward.
Freshman William Satterwhite is expected to take over for the Vols at center, but as young as he is and given the fact that he’s still learning how to face SEC competition, it’s probably a bit much to ask the Ohio native to be a leader until he’s more comfortable in his cleats.
The Vols could actually have a more talented tailback taking handoffs next season than they did last, which is saying something considering just how good Sampson was in 2024. After all, he was the SEC Offensive Player of the Year last season. Nevertheless, Peyton Lewis, his replacement – from a physical standpoint – is bigger, more powerful and more able to carry the running back load over the course of the season.
Sampson was able to do all that was asked of him physically last season, but the Vols’ probably were fortunate he held up as well as he did given his workload and size, which is generously listed at 5-foot-11 and 201 pounds. Simply put, Lewis, who is a solid 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, can be a better tailback even if he doesn’t reach the same statistical heights as Sampson. However, Lewis as a leader? That’s another matter. Football teams don’t expect their tailbacks to be leaders and, moreover, Lewis is just a sophomore.
Tennessee receiver Bru McCoy never hit his full potential as a Vol due to a serious injury he suffered in 2023 that surely affected his explosiveness last season. Who steps up to lead the Vols in McCoy’s absence? That’s anyone’s guess right now.
The offseason is a time to refine one’s physical skills, but there’s more to accomplish than that. The offseason is also a time for leaders to establish themselves and, subsequently, exert their influence to make sure all Vols are on the straight and narrow.
If Iamaleava is going to be a leader, he needs to shore some things up pretty quickly. He may not be equipped to be a vocal leader given his soft-spoken nature, but don’t rule that out just yet. Iamaleava was well known for being a strong, outspoken leader on his high school football team. I wouldn’t give up on Iamaleava being an outspoken leader just yet, but he has other issues to button down before that is ever the case.
Iamaleava came into last season seemingly uncertain of Tennessee’s offensive plan, per multiple sources that spoke with Off The Hook Sports. That was a bit surprising considering he had an entire offseason to prepare himself.
Perhaps Iamaleava, who is expected to return any day from Los Angeles where he’s been working out with McCoy and sophomore receiver Mike Matthews, can be the leader that Tennessee needs. That would be the perfect scenario.
To be that sort of leader, Iamaleava needs to hit the ground running when he gets back from California. The season may seem to be in the distant future, but it’s not. The Vols will be kicking things off against Syracuse on Aug. 30 before you know it.
If the Vols’ don’t find some strong leadership on the offensive side of the ball, then Tennessee could be in serious trouble no matter how talented they are. Nico, are you listening?
