ATLANTA - DECEMBER 31: Safety Eric Berry #14 of the Tennessee Volunteers takes a breather during the Chick-Fil-A Bowl against the Virginia Tech Hokies at the Georgia Dome on December 31, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hokies beat the Volunteers 37-14. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
Heupel’s incredible comeback since taking over as Tennessee’s head coach has resulted in a 27-12 overall record, eight wins over teams ranked in the top 25, the program’s first College Football Playoff New Year’s Six appearance, and consecutive top-20 poll finishes.
The Tennessee Vols’ 2023 football team ended with an 8-4 overall record which led them to the Citrus Bowl where new quarterback Nico Iamaleava got his first start. He led the Vols to a 35-0 bowl win over the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Key Tennessee Volunteers Players for Success in 2024
Looking ahead to the 2024 season, there is a lot for Tennessee fans to look forward to. That all roots from the team that is being put on the field which has a lot of elite talent that is primed to take the Vols very far in 2024
This one seems a little bit obvious. There is no more important position on a football team than its leader, the quarterback. For the Vols in 2024, they are fielding their five-star recruit out of California, Nico Iamaleava.
Iamaleava had an elite high school career at Warren High School where he threw for 3,248 yards, 50 touchdown passes, and just two interceptions. Coming out of high school, Iamaleava was recruited heavily by many schools before landing with Tennessee. In January of 2023 when he was finishing high school, he was ranked as the number one overall recruit by On3. When Tennessee finally signed him, they gave him an $8 million dollar NIL deal that was a key point in getting him to choose the University of Tennessee.
Vols fans have yet to see much of what he can do as their starting quarterback, having only played in five games so far. They did, however, get to see him start the Citrus Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes where he went 12 for 19, 150 yards, and one touchdown while also running for 27 yards and three touchdowns. It’s only one start but it showed a glimpse of the greatness that Iamaleava brings to Tennessee.
