While Tennessee is making waves in recruiting, doubts still linger over its current quarterback, Nico Iamaleava. The Vols just got a major boost in their pursuit of the top QB in the 2024 class, setting the stage for the future. But for now, the focus remains on the present — where uncertainty looms. Iamaleava was once seen as Tennessee’s next superstar under center. But after a rocky 2024 season as a redshirt freshman, questions are piling up. His struggles have cast a shadow over 2025, and the pressure is only building. Can he silence the doubters? With the season approaching, some Vols fans are hoping HC Josh Heupel will open up the offense and unleash Iamaleava’s full potential.

Not everyone sees Nico Iamaleava’s future at Tennessee the same way. In a recent On3 YouTube video, J.D. PicKell dropped a bombshell about the Vols’ QB situation. While discussing Iamaleava’s development and what Heupel must do to elevate Tennessee, PicKell made his stance clear. “When you talk about Nico and his progress, I don’t think it’s a matter of talent — I really don’t. I don’t think the industry just whiffed on what he was as a prospect. We had him as the number one player in America coming out of high school, and I stand by that,” said PicKell, and his words reignite the debate — Is Nico the guy?

However, PicKell didn’t just raise doubts — he gave the answer too. He pointed to the real question surrounding Iamaleava’s future. “I don’t think anybody last year watched Nico and thought, ‘Man, he just can’t do it.’ Physically, I don’t know the arm strength, the mobility – nobody’s saying that. What everyone’s saying is: Can he get on the same page with his receivers? Can he connect on the deep ball?” stated the On3 insider.

Not sure whether he can get on the same page with offense and defense. But for PicKell, the issue isn’t talent — it’s vision. “So, in regards to how we talk about Nico, I don’t think it’s a conversation about can he do it? It’s a question, to me, of can he see it? Because I have multiple games now where I’ve watched him and been like, he’s getting away with this because he’s so talented, but there’s probably some more juice he can squeeze out of this game as he gets more, more reps under his belt in an 11-on-1, real college football Saturday kind of environment. And he’s gotten that now.” Now, it’s time for Nico to prove he’s the leader Tennessee needs.

And On3 Insider laid it out perfectly – growth comes from adversity. “So, what successful people do is they take their failures — or their lumps is a better way to say it — the lumps,” he said. See, the tough lessons Nico learned against Georgia. The hard hits he took against OSU in the playoff. Those aren’t setbacks — they’re stepping stones. And they’re the very reasons he’ll be better next time.

Then, J.D. PicKell took it a step further. “So, if Nico Iamaleava takes those experiences, gets in the film room, maybe gets on the Jayden Daniels virtual reality — I don’t know—maybe gets in the lab a little bit, that could change the entire trajectory of Tennessee football,” said the insider.

But hold on — Nico Iamaleava’s future with the Vols might not be as secure as it seems. Josh Heupel is making moves. Big million-dollar moves. With Iamaleava’s present still under scrutiny, Heupel is wasting no time securing the future. He’s locking in on a star quarterback, a potential game-changer for Tennessee. The message is clear: no spot is guaranteed. Competition is coming, and Nico has to prove it.

Tennessee Volunteers’ new star beyond Nico Iamaleava

Tennessee is making power moves for its future under center. While all eyes are on Nico, Heupel is already laying the groundwork for what’s next. Enter Faizon Brandon — the 6-foot-3 gunslinger out of Greensboro. A dynamic playmaker with a big arm and high upside, Brandon has already committed to the Vols. But Tennessee isn’t just securing its guy; it’s fending off powerhouse programs like Bama and LSU, who are eager to flip him.

But don’t worry, Vols fan. Brandon, rated as the No. 1 prospect in the entire 2026 class by 247Sports, has every top program in the country knocking on his door. But despite the heavy interest, he’s standing firm. And On3’s Steve Wiltfong put it plainly: “The nation’s No. 2 quarterback in five-star Faizon Brandon says he’s locked in with Tennessee.”

As of now, Brandon may be committed, but in the world of recruiting, nothing is set in stone until National Signing Day. With a $1 million NIL valuation, On3 sees Brandon as one of the most valuable prospects in the 2026 class. And he’s already cashing in. The star QB has locked in an NIL deal with 7UP, proving that his talent isn’t just making waves on the field — it’s making moves off it too.

Now, the real question is – how will the star QB stack up against Nico Iamaleava in 2025? The Vols’ QB battle is just heating up.