Developing his third quarterback in four years, Josh Heupel is getting Tennessee football ready to return to SEC contention following a lackluster 2023 campaign. With a redshirt freshman at quarterback, the Vols, who have won 27 games in Heupel’s three years, will try to contend in the recently expanded SEC.
Nico Iamaleava is willing to take on the task. According to 247 Sports, he was ranked as the top talent out of California and the second-best player in the 2023 recruiting class when he arrived at Knoxville. He has therefore been one of the most anticipated players on Rocky Top in my lifetime, if not the most.
As a true freshman, the redshirt freshman played in five games, starting the Citrus Bowl and guiding the Vols to a 35-0 victory over Iowa. For the majority of the season, he didn’t get to showcase as much as many fans had hoped to see from him because he was mostly used as a mop-up.
Nico is one of the most anticipated college football players, according to ESPN, who ranks him number one on their list of the top ten prospects for the 2024 campaign.
Writer Paolo Uggetti of ESPN writes, “There’s no surprise here.” “After an MVP-winning, four-touchdown performance in the Citrus Bowl the previous season, one of the most highly anticipated and praised athletes in the high school class of last year is expected to earn his chance at starting quarterback for Tennessee this season. Iamaleava may be inexperienced, small, and young, but there’s a good reason why he’s been the subject of so much excitement.”
Nico shown his ability to succeed with his arms and legs during the Citrus Bowl last year. He is surrounded by weapons on the periphery and an adept offensive line. Nico can thrive in the scheme because Heupel and the coaching staff have done a fantastic job laying a solid foundation for each position group.
The complete list of players who are highly anticipated for the 2024 college football season is provided here.
Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava, quarterback
2. Georgia’s Raylen Wilson, LB
3. Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith, WR
4. Ole Miss Suntarine Perkins, LB
5. Alabama’s Justice Haynes, RB
6. Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr., Edge
7. USC’s Zachariah Branch, WR
8. Florida State’s Darrell Jackson Jr., DL
9. Texas A&M’s Rueben Owens, RB
10. Edge, Oregon’s Teitum Tuioti and Mateo Uiagalelei