The Tennessee Vols' offense, typically a strength under head coach Josh Heupel, never seemed to hit its stride last season. 

Tennessee averaged 35.7 points per game last season (good enough to finish as the No. 13 scoring offense in the nation), but that number was a bit misleading. 

The Vols averaged only 25.0 points per game in SEC play (UT also scored just 17 points in their loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the first round of the College Football Playoff). 

There have been various theories about why the Vols' offense wasn't as prolific in 2024 as it was in some of Heupel's previous seasons (2021 and 2022, specifically). 

Some folks point to opposing defenses "figuring out" Tennessee's offense. Others suggest that the Vols' futility on offense in SEC games is due to a combination of subpar play from the quarterback, offensive line, and wide receiver positions.  

Another theory revolves around the lack of strong vocal leadership from the quarterback position last season. 

Nico Iamaleava, who transferred to UCLA in April, started at quarterback for Tennessee in 2024, and he was known as a quiet leader. That's something that Iamaleava was working on being better at before leaving Knoxville earlier this year. 

"I think when it just comes to letting the whole offense and defense and the whole team hear your voice, I think that’s been the biggest thing for me," said Iamaleava in March, a month before he transferred to UCLA. "Just stepping out of my shell. I wasn’t very comfortable speaking in front of large crowds and stuff like that, but I’ve taken that next step and that’s something I’m continuing to work on.”

Vols senior tight end Miles Kitselman confirmed during an appearance on 104.5 The Zone's 3HL on Tuesday that vocal leadership is something that Tennessee's offense was missing last season. 

Kitselman also explained why he doesn't think that will be an issue in 2025 with either Joey Aguilar or Jake Merklinger (the two most likely candidates to win the Vols' starting quarterback battle this fall…true freshman George MacIntyre is also in the competition). 

"I would say being vocal," said Kitselman when asked what he likes about the three quarterbacks on Tennessee's roster. "I think that's probably the biggest thing we were missing last year. You know, you come off a drive, go three-and-out, go three-and-out again, and it's like, where's the voice on this team? And it should have been me, but being my first year there, it was kind of like, man, I don't know if I've proved myself enough to call out some of these fifth-year seniors who have been here for five years."

"For sure, yeah, 100 percent," added Kitselman when asked if he feels like he's proved himself enough to be a more of a vocal leader in 2025. "I feel like I've proved myself more than enough. And these quarterbacks, all three of them — especially Joey and Jake, just being a little older — they are not afraid to rip into it. And I love it. I absolutely love it. And then the second you have somebody who talks back, you got five or six dudes, like myself, that are like, 'Nah, we're not going with that. He's right, you're wrong'. Like, you know, get back in line. So I would just say the vocal part of it [is what] I love [and] we need."

Iamaleava never seem comfortable being the guy who would rip into teammates for failing to meet the standard. And I get it — not everyone is that kind of guy. But it's something that's almost necessary to thrive at quarterback in the SEC. Sometimes, you have to be a bit of a jerk in that role (we've seen it from Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and plenty of other greats). 

Maybe a demanding on-field general is all that Tennessee's offense needs in order to get back to an elite level. 

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