What Should Tennessee Fans Expect From Nico Iamaleava?

What Should Tennessee Fans Expect From Nico Iamaleava?

Tennessee fans should feel pretty encouraged by what they saw during the Cheez-It Bowl. Nico Iamaleava is the quarterback of the future for the Vols, but what should Tennessee fans expect with their new starting quarterback in 2024? Let’s talk about it. 

It’s kinda being undersold how talented the recruiting cycle was for quarterbacks a year ago. Except all of whom haven’t really grabbed the bull by the horns yet. We haven’t seen Arch Manning yet but his name value sort of speaks for itself. Jackson Arnold had a rough debut for Oklahoma but is still a young guy with promise and won the Elite 11 camp. Then we have Malachi Nelson who got demoted at USC and just transferred to Boise State. 

Then you have Iamaleava just sitting in the garage. Are we sure the new Tennessee quarterback won’t be the most talented player of that bunch? After that test drive in the Bowl game against Iowa, I might take Nico if I had to bet my life on it. 

If we’ve learned anything over the last few years, it’s that size matters. Josh Allen is as dominant as he is because you can’t tackle him along with the fact that the arm talent is the best we’ve ever seen. CJ Stroud is much bigger than Bryce Young. Should we be surprised by the way both of their years transpired? I guess I’m not considering I had Stroud ranked first!

Iamaleava, 19, has all the physical tools. It’s a matter of if he will grow into that superstar quarterback. Based on what we saw against Iowa, I think we should feel pretty good about his chances. 

The raw ceiling here should make everyone excited. Nico is just a freak athlete who checks in at 6-foot-6, 206. He looks incredibly skinny and still needs to grow into his body but this is exactly the lump of clay you’re looking to develop into the next modern day superstar quarterback. 

Nico has rare athletic traits. Have you ever seen him play volleyball? I don’t know anything about volleyball, but this is impressive. 

The new Volunteers’ quarterback should be a threat with his legs. He’s also been gifted arm talent. It’s about growing into his body and executing Josh Heupal’s offense. Something that isn’t exactly easy to do. Something that isn’t exactly easy to do. Joe Milton is athletic too and he had just one 300+ yard passing performance all year and that was against Vandy. 

Long story short; Tennessee fans should be excited about what they have here. Heupal has proven he can develop quarterbacks and Nico has all the requisite talent to be the next superstar quarterback. If the Vols are going to become a premier power in the SEC again, this very well may be their best chance to do just that. 

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