National analyst makes strong statement about Tennessee Vols and the 12-team College Football Playoff
On3's JD Pickell made some comments about the Tennessee Vols this week that will undoubtedly get UT fans excited. Pickell suggested that Tennessee could be a team that no one wants to see in the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024. "If Nico Iamaleava is as advertised, from day one, because we've seen how […]
On3's JD Pickell made some comments about the Tennessee Vols this week that will undoubtedly get UT fans excited.
Pickell suggested that Tennessee could be a team that no one wants to see in the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff in 2024.
"If Nico Iamaleava is as advertised, from day one, because we've seen how this offense is supposed to run, we've seen what it can look like with the right guy pulling the trigger back there for them at quarterback," said Pickell. "Hendon Hooker, again, had them scoring over 40 a game. The reason why they weren't able to accomplish what they wanted to accomplish in 2022, one, the defense had some real issues. The second part of this, Hendon Hooker got hurt.
"If you put a 2022 team with Hendon Hooker playing quarterback, in an offense operating at that level, in a 12-team playoff, who wants to see a Tennessee offense operating like that? That's what I think Nico could bring to the table for this Tennessee team in 2024. I don't see a ton of physical limitations to what he (Nico) does. He can spray the football around the field. He's a tremendous athlete….the ceiling for this Tennessee offense, if it exists, is extremely high. And if you got them in a 12-team playoff, I do not think I'd want to play the Vols. Especially in Neyland. If they get to host a playoff game? Forget about it."
The Vols aren't one of the college football programs that's receiving a bunch of playoff hype this offseason. Most of the playoff predictions from the national media, in fact, don't include Tennessee.
But there's reason for excitement. Nico's upside combined with the dangerous weapons he has at his disposal, along with what should be an improved UT defense, has the Vols primed to make some major noise in the first ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
