The college football landscape is buzzing, and a lot of the chatter centers around one name. The Heisman Trophy-worthy Nico Iamaleava. The Tennessee Volunteers’ freshman quarterback is not your usual player but an emerging celebrity, and the experts are starting to stop and take a look. The young man has thrown for 892 yards and seven touchdowns and kept interceptions to a minimum with only 2 so far this season. Not to mention, he’s got a QBR of 74.0. Nico Iamaleava isn’t just racking up points; he’s proving he can play with his back against the wall.

Recently, David Pollack went on an ESPN College Football podcast and blessed the listeners with some gems on Iamaleava and the Volunteers as they seek domination in the SEC. That’s especially evident, considering teams like Alabama and Georgia are already looking at them as potential threats.

Tennessee has not faced an easy slate of games either. They have played teams like NC State and Oklahoma, which they have beaten in style. Instead, Niko played in his most recent game against Oklahoma, where he passed for 194 yards, leading the team to a victory with a score of 25-15. Pollack said that although he has been great, he has more potential to improve, “I think we’re going to see down the road; I think that’s what’s scary. Can he continue to grow before they get to the Alabama game and the Georgia game?” If Nico does carry on to grow, he will be a real thorn in the flesh of the SEC’s defensive squads.

Pollack did not hide his words when it came to the Iamaleava’s prospect. He nicknamed him “scary”, explaining that there is no other talented and composed young quarterback. The stats back it up, too. “I pubbed up Nico as much as anybody, and watching his Iowa game and watching his first game, I’m like this dude is sensational. He’s Heisman Trophy type good”, Pollack added. Nico Iamaleava might just be the next best thing!

The cream of the crop in the SEC has been Alabama and Georgia, and these two powerhouses are not going to roll over and die. Pollack pointed out that the problem that Tennessee has is beating these teams. “I don’t question who they are as a team, and they’re going to be a great team, but can they beat Bama and Georgia? That’s what their task is to do down the stretch.” he asked about the challenges that the Volunteers will encounter.

Facing the titans: what lies ahead for Tennessee

Rendering accuracy to their claims, the credibility of Tennessee can only be proved by its performances in the following games. Now, they have proven that they are the real deals, but can they do it against stiffer competition? The Volunteers have excelled from time to time, but consistency is not received in the SEC. They want to know if they can maintain that level of play, especially in a game that will take place against top-ranked Arkansas.

This is because the anticipation around Nico Iamaleava has every fan hoping for the next big thing. Is this freshman quarterback capable of getting the Volunteers an SEC championship? If what he has shown in his previous games is anything to go by, then he has a chance.

Pollack noted that even though Nico Iamaleava has had some great outings, there is a question of how he fares in pressure encounters against the likes of Alabama and Georgia. That kind of game could have been the story of the season and the tyranny of Volunteers’ fate. “He wasn’t great against NC State; he wasn’t great against Oklahoma. We haven’t even seen the best version of him yet,” Pollack pointed out, but this only means that there’s still more to learn.

But what’s even more exciting is the chemistry forming within the team. Iamaleava is not alone in his operations; he has other helpers, Sampson and Thornton Jr., who assist in creating space. In the game against Chattanooga, Iamaleava passed for 314 yards to prove that he knew how to hit his targets. However, if the offense can get on the same page and stay there, then Tennessee could be a serious contender.