LATEST: Dangerous Tennessee football weapon identified as 2024 breakout star
Even now, in mid-June, college football seems both distant and imminent. As each day passes, teams like Tennessee football and others are intensifying their preparations for the season openers.
The Volunteers are an intriguing team for 2024. After a stellar 2022 season, the best in Knoxville in decades, where they reached the No. 1 spot in the rankings, Tennessee experienced a slight decline in 2023. The departure of standout receivers and veteran quarterback Hendon Hooker left the team with uncertainties, despite the hype following their 11-2 finish.
Michigan transfer quarterback Joe Milton didn’t meet expectations after Hooker’s departure, and injuries to key receivers like Bru McCoy further hampered the passing game. Nevertheless, the Vols’ offense ranked 19th nationally, with 53 touchdowns and averages of 6.76 yards per play and 448 yards per game. This was a significant drop from the previous year’s top ranking, where they averaged 7.2 yards per play and 525.5 yards per game.
Considering Tennessee’s challenging past two decades, a 9-4 record with a consecutive bowl win is still a major achievement. The question remains: can they replicate or improve upon that success in 2024?
Tennessee football should be improved in 2024
Head coach Josh Heupel hopes for a healthier season in 2024. Injuries to the receiving corps significantly impacted Tennessee football last year. However, Bru McCoy has announced his return, joining last year’s leading receiver Squirrel White, Oregon transfer Donte Thornton Jr., this year’s Tulane transfer Chris Brazzell II, and Notre Dame tight end Holden Staes.
Tennessee football carries momentum into the new season, reminiscent of their Orange Bowl victory over Clemson. Despite a two-game skid in November, losing to SEC powerhouses Georgia and Missouri, the Vols finished strong with a decisive win over Vanderbilt and a Citrus Bowl victory against 20th-ranked Iowa.
The Citrus Bowl showcased the potential for an even brighter future. With Joe Milton opting out, highly-touted freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava stepped up, offering a promising glimpse of what’s to come.
Tennessee football starting QB Nico Iamaleava will keep the Vols competitive in the SEC
Once Hendon Hooker exhausted his eligibility and headed to the NFL, it was clear who would be Tennessee football’s next starting quarterback. Joe Milton, who had transferred from Ann Arbor to Knoxville and even started over Hooker at the beginning of the 2021 season, was the obvious choice for 2023 barring any unforeseen circumstances. Despite this, Vols fans eagerly awaited the debut of freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
Every missed throw or errant pass from Milton intensified the calls for Iamaleava. Although the true freshman saw limited action during the season, mainly in garbage time, his opportunity came during the Citrus Bowl.
After Milton started the first 12 games, Iamaleava took over for the finale against a strong Iowa defense. In a 35-0 rout of the Hawkeyes, he scored the first touchdown on a 19-yard run and added two more on short runs before finishing with an 18-yard touchdown pass to McCallan Castles. He ended the game with 12 completions on 19 attempts for 151 passing yards, 27 rushing yards, and four total touchdowns.
Iamaleava arrived in Knoxville with high expectations, being a consensus five-star recruit and ranked as the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the country by 247Sports. Fans eagerly awaited his chance to lead the team, and now, as the full-time starter, he brings immense potential. With his skills and the expanded College Football Playoff on the horizon, Iamaleava’s presence transforms the dynamic of Tennessee football in 2024.