National college football analyst adds more fuel to Nico Iamaleava's fire in 2025 with latest snub
It appears as though many in the media world don't think too highly of Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava after the 2024 season. You can add On3 Sports' Andy Staples to that list. Staples put out his top 10 quarterbacks for the 2025 season, and the Vols' starting signal caller was nowhere to be found. […]
It appears as though many in the media world don't think too highly of Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava after the 2024 season. You can add On3 Sports' Andy Staples to that list.
Staples put out his top 10 quarterbacks for the 2025 season, and the Vols' starting signal caller was nowhere to be found.
First, yes, it's an offseason list from a writer. I can already hear some of you pounding on your keyboards. No need to. I know. It's an opinion and not official.
That being said, don't tell me that players don't use slights and negativity as fuel. They most certainly do. And in the case of Kirby Smart, he takes things that aren't slights and turns them into slights – such as when he says things like everybody doubted the Bulldogs (see after 2024 Texas game) despite basically nobody doubting the Bulldogs. In short, guys look high and low to try and find motivation in some instances.
Here, well, Staples – a Florida graduate and one-year football walk on – isn't the first to tab Gator QB DJ Lagway over Nico in a QB ranking. Pro Football Focus' Max Chadwick had Nico (9th) behind both Lagway (7th) and even Diego Pavia (8th) in his rankings of signal callers for 2025.
Lagway is someone who showed both flashes and flaws in his freshman season. He appeared in 12 games and completed 59.9% of his passes for 1915 yards with 12 touchdowns to 9 interceptions. Meanwhile, in his first full season as a starter, Nico completed 63.8% of his passes for 2616 yards with 19 touchdowns to 5 interceptions.
Nico and the Vols got the better of the Gators in 2024, winning 23-17 in overtime. We'll find out if Nico and his teammates can get the last laugh over Lagway and the Gators again when the two sides meet in Gainesville on November 22.
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