Is Nico the best first year starter in Tennessee history?

[LivinginthePast]

Speaking statistically and wins? 2616 yards 19 TDs , 5 Ints. 10 wins with wins over Florida and Alabama hated rivals. Play off birth. Curious to see what first year starters did that through a whole season.

Recent memory Peyton started games in 1994 and Casey Clausen in 2000. But nullifies the argument for first year starter. If you compare their sophomore years you have this. Nico can potentially do better than this next year.

Nico Iamaleava Fresh, 2616 yards , 19 TDs, 5 Ints, Played for a chance at a national championship. Lost to Ohio state.

Peyton Manning Sophmore- 2954 yards, 22 TDS, 4 Ints, 11-1 did not play for a chance at a national championship. Florida or Nebraska were gonna win it. Had a chance but Florida never lost again after we got blown out early in season.

Casey Clausen Sophmore- 2969 yards , 22 TDS , 9 Ints, had a chance to play for a national championship but couldn’t beat LSU in SEC championship.

Things are always different through out the years. Heath Shulers last year he passed for 2354, 25 TDs and 8 Ints. I always hear about how he should have own Heisman.

Anyways point is it was Nico’s first year. Yes he overthrew some folks. Other than Thornton nobody got open either in a regular basis. Has their ever been a first year starter in our history this good ?

 

[volfan102455]

A large part of our success this year was due to Dylan Sampson - just saying. I don't think we would have been as successful without him.

 

[C-south]

 

[MurphyVol]

Nico started the bowl game the previous year

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Lol if you’re saying Peyton’s sophomore year counts, then that’s the answer. You also left off a national champion from your list

 

[madbamahater]

Nico has been the best Freshman starting QB in UT history.

 

[C-south]

Eric Ainge and Brent Shaeffer were better.

 

[Cod]

Eric Ainge and Brent Shaeffer were better.

 

[LivinginthePast]

A large part of our success this year was due to Dylan Sampson - just saying. I don't think we would have been as successful without him.

So was 1995 it was Jay Graham running the ball.

 

[LivinginthePast]

Nico started the bowl game the previous year

I meant for a whole season bowl game only makes him look better.

 

[LivinginthePast]

Lol if you’re saying Peyton’s sophomore year counts, then that’s the answer. You also left off a national champion from your list

It doesn’t count peyton started many games his F year. Nico only started the bowl game.

 

[Orangepantsforever]

Ainge was better, but different era, different game.
Shuler was also quite good.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

It doesn’t count peyton started many games his F year. Nico only started the bowl game.

Tee and Ainge were better than Nico without question. Bray was too. Hendon hooker’s first year was much better, Shuler was better,

 

[LivinginthePast]

Ainge was better, but different era, different game.
Shuler was also quite good.

How????

Erik Ainge was not good until 2006 and 2007. 2004 he battled Brent. 2005 he had many issues.

He had 22 tds and 16 Ints in his F and S year with a total of 2189 yards.

 

[LivinginthePast]

Tee and Ainge were better than Nico without question. Bray was too. Hendon hooker’s first year was much better, Shuler was better,

Nope not statistically. We are talking one year with Nico. Tee martin was 2164 yards 19 tds and 6 int as a Junior. A junior. 98 team had a hell of a defense and run game. Nico is a Freshman.

 

[Vol8188]

What about Bray?

 

[volfever007]

View attachment 710008

Speaking statistically and wins? 2616 yards 19 TDs , 5 Ints. 10 wins with wins over Florida and Alabama hated rivals. Play off birth. Curious to see what first year starters did that through a whole season.

Recent memory Peyton started games in 1994 and Casey Clausen in 2000. But nullifies the argument for first year starter. If you compare their sophomore years you have this. Nico can potentially do better than this next year.

Nico Iamaleava Fresh, 2616 yards , 19 TDs, 5 Ints, Played for a chance at a national championship. Lost to Ohio state.

Peyton Manning Sophmore- 2954 yards, 22 TDS, 4 Ints, 11-1 did not play for a chance at a national championship. Florida or Nebraska were gonna win it. Had a chance but Florida never lost again after we got blown out early in season.

Casey Clausen Sophmore- 2969 yards , 22 TDS , 9 Ints, had a chance to play for a national championship but couldn’t beat LSU in SEC championship.

Things are always different through out the years. Heath Shulers last year he passed for 2354, 25 TDs and 8 Ints. I always hear about how he should have own Heisman.

Anyways point is it was Nico’s first year. Yes he overthrew some folks. Other than Thornton nobody got open either in a regular basis. Has their ever been a first year starter in our history this good ?

Nico is a redshirt freshman, not a true freshman, he's been in this sytem for 2 years now.

 

[Orangepantsforever]

Got hurt 1st half of the ND game. Seemed like he was doing well, up to that point. Shaffer (sp?) had been hurt several games prior, IIRC. Been a long time, so I don’t recall stats……but the game was just so different pre-spread r/o.
But I may be wrong, I haven’t checked the stats. I was a 25 year old pup back then, made enough stupid decisions since to discredit my opinion

I did enjoy watching “good” Ainge though. Not really a fan of his radio work.

 

[C-south]

Nope not statistically. We are talking one year with Nico. Tee martin was 2164 yards 19 tds and 6 int as a Junior. A junior. 98 team had a hell of a defense and run game. Nico is a Freshman.

If you’re going to call him a freshman at least be honest and add the redshirt. He was an early enrollee and had the luxury of sitting for a year and a half to learn all he needed to know as far as the offense goes. He might get better but at this point he’s been vastly overhyped.

 

[Orangepantsforever]

How????

Erik Ainge was not good until 2006 and 2007. 2004 he battled Brent. 2005 he had many issues.

He had 22 tds and 16 Ints in his F and S year with a total of 2189 yards.

Got hurt 1st half of the ND game. Seemed like he was doing well, up to that point. Shaffer (sp?) had been hurt several games prior, IIRC. Been a long time, so I don’t recall stats……but the game was just so different pre-spread r/o.
But I may be wrong, I haven’t checked the stats. I was a 25 year old pup back then, made enough stupid decisions since to discredit my opinion

I did enjoy watching “good” Ainge though. Not really a fan of his radio work.

 

[wmcovol]

Eric Ainge and Brent Shaeffer were better.

Not Brent Schaefer. Dude went 17 straight processions without a first down

 

[Orangepantsforever]

What about Bray?

He was hard to be a fan of, but he was pretty good. I don’t really think he was the prick he was made out to be. Just didn’t have any guidance.

 

[LegionnaireOfTheMiserable]

Nope not statistically. We are talking one year with Nico. Tee martin was 2164 yards 19 tds and 6 int as a Junior. A junior. 98 team had a hell of a defense and run game. Nico is a Freshman.

Stats are inflated these days. Bowl game stats were not officially counted, and regular seasons were 11 games. We didn’t play D 1-AA teams back then like Nico got to benefit from statistically against UTC.

Not to mention that passing stats are just higher in general these days.

 

[Orangepantsforever]

A.J. Suggs!!

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Lol if you’re saying Peyton’s sophomore year counts, then that’s the answer. You also left off a national champion from your list

Cool. Let’s look at Tee Martins first year starting stats.

57% 2164 yards 19 TDs and 6 INTs. Oh and that’s with a team loaded with NFL talent. Even with that, Nico was better in 2024.