Anonymous SEC coach makes strong statement about QB Nico Iamaleava and the Tennessee Vols in 2024
Anonymous comments from SEC coaches about other SEC programs via Athlon Sports have become somewhat of an early summer tradition. Athlon Sports annually talks to various SEC coaches to get their "unfiltered" thoughts on their conference opponents. On Wednesday evening, Athlon Sports' Steven Lassan joined "That SEC Football Podcast" to reveal this year's anonymous comments […]
Anonymous comments from SEC coaches about other SEC programs via Athlon Sports have become somewhat of an early summer tradition.
Athlon Sports annually talks to various SEC coaches to get their "unfiltered" thoughts on their conference opponents.
On Wednesday evening, Athlon Sports' Steven Lassan joined "That SEC Football Podcast" to reveal this year's anonymous comments from SEC coaches.
When it comes to the Tennessee Vols, the anonymous comments centered on redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the defense, and UT's chances of reaching the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024.
"That staff thinks Nico [Iamaleava] will be the best quarterback they've had in that system. And when they have a QB they're confident in, they're as good as anyone on that side of the football. The question is going to be what they put around him this season. They don't have an elite wideout or obvious target. But the Tulane transfer (Chris Brazzell) is pretty decent."
"Defensively, they're not at the level of the national title-caliber programs in this league, but they're better than when Josh (Heupel) took over. The floor is higher here, but they have question marks in the secondary. Put them right outside of the playoff contenders for now, but the quarterback could be really special."
Those comments aren't exactly groundbreaking. That's pretty much the same thing we've heard from the national media all offseason — Nico can be special, who is going to step up at wide receiver, and is the defense going to be good enough to get the Vols to the 12-team playoff?
Fair questions and takeaways.
There's no doubt that Nico can be special. And the defense, specifically the secondary, has to prove they can play at a high level against championship- caliber competition (there's not as much concern about Tennessee's defensive line, which can potentially be elite in 2024).
The comment about the Vols' wide receivers is the one area where Tennessee might be getting shortchanged a bit. Bru McCoy and Squirrel White are dependable go-to options. And Dont'e Thornton looked like he was starting to get comfortable in Josh Heupel's offense last season before he suffered a season-ending injury in the Vols' loss to Missouri. Throw in Brazzell and true freshmen Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley and it's a deep wide receiver room for the Vols (plus there's Kaleb Webb and Chas Nimrd).
Additionally, redshirt freshman tight end Ethan Davis could be an X-factor for the Vols' offense this fall. Davis has the potential to be an elite SEC player.
Overall, the perception of Tennessee entering the 2024 season is that they can be really good, but they're not a "lock" to reach the playoff.
Recent comments from former Oklahoma DC Mike Stoops are ironic considering the way Josh Heupel was fired by Sooners
Wild the way that all went down
