Nico and the future

[VolPack22]

Doesn’t matter how much he improves if the OL and WR around him don’t improve also.

 

[Bigorangefan 98]

He could become Josh Allen like IF he puts on 25 pounds of muscle. Not saying he will -
But he has the frame for it.

My concern is oline play. Not good this year at times - especially against SEC teams in road games.

Losing Mays is a major concern. I’m not sure we have what we need to succeed next year with oline play.

Also - until the line and Nico can go up tempo . . . This offense will be limited. Not up tempo makes this a MUCH easier offense to defend.

We are now on year two of a pedestrian offense. A third year of this . . . And recruits will notice.

I look for the Vols to hit the portal fairly hard for some o. Line help

 

[Casual Mustard Yeeter]

Nico will definitely be much better next year. I think he could be one of the nations best QBs next year. My only worries are the WRs and especially the center position. Our WRs have to get better. And replacing Coop is going to be HUGE for the offense next year.

Yeah I feel like Cooper Mays running out of eligibility is the biggest loss for next year. In this offense the center has a ton of responsibility.

 

[overseasorange2]

Well he has really gotta put on weight. His playing weight should be like 225

Beck is also very thin. In fact, he looks like he has AIDS. Couldn't believe our defense could not catch him

 

[DaddyChad]

He has to find touch on his deep ball. If not he could lose his job over the next two years. Competition incoming

Have you seen the competition? I mean actually seen the kid coming in? He’s a year of strength and conditioning from seeing the field even as a back up.

We really, really need better WRs or at least one elite guy that can do everything.

 

[Okie]

He won’t lose his job, but he’ll get pushed. Merklinger has talent, and GMac looks like he came from the same qb factory Nico did: 6’6” athlete with a release that looks like a dang crossbow.

I don't know what Nico's NIL amount actually is, but the rumors are huge. Is he still worth tying up a large percentage of NIL $ and/or does that make it more difficult to get a solid backup/replacement when he's gone?

 

[Rocky Top T]

Nico has definitely made strides this year and is going to be much better next year. But the OL is going to be a huge concern. Losing a lot of experienced guys that haven't been great other than Cooper. Spraggins has been slightly above average while everyone else is just average. The inability to develop guys over the 4 years they've been there so far is troubling.

Spraggins is not above average, do you watch him? He has not been good

 

[jarnol32]

Strength/weight will give Nico more confidence as I think he’s a little contact shy. He made a couple very determined runs vs Georgia so that was encouraging.

Nico needs mostly to improve on his reads and progressions. It’s a struggle for him right now and he’s reacting rather than anticipating. The fast tempo is working against him. When we hurry to the line to run the next play, teams have learned to just “bring the house” and confuse him. We really didn’t know how exceptional the Hendon/Hyatt season was until now. I’m afraid that kind of efficiency and production is going to be very rare. That’s why it’s so frustrating to not see Heupel adjust to what his players can do best.

I agree right now he is a one read quarterback. I don’t think he processes the defense fast enough, time will tell if it will click for him.

 

[GVF]

He has to find touch on his deep ball. If not he could lose his job over the next two years. Competition incoming

He has a tendency to Bazooka Joe short passes as well.

 

[Vol in Buckeye Land]

I don't know what Nico's NIL amount actually is, but the rumors are huge. Is he still worth tying up a large percentage of NIL $ and/or does that make it more difficult to get a solid backup/replacement when he's gone?

UT has a very highly regarded qb in the 2025 class and the no. 1 qb in the country for ‘26.

 

[EZE]

Goodness, we lose to a potential national championship team in their house in a night game, and a large contingent is ready to burn down the entire program and replace everyone.

This place is crazyville. A psychologist would have a field day on here.

Maybe I’m too much of an optimist, but I think the short term and long term future is very bright for Nico and Volunteer football.

 

[volfeeva]

Hooker was smaller in size than Nico and he did pretty good. Being able to hit a receiver in stride is a talent the weight room can't give you.

 

[SonOfGodVolforlife]

A lot of you might not know this, but I’m a former strength athlete, mainly in powerlifting. I’ve always been fascinated by strength and conditioning — whether it’s reading about it, performing it, or just watching athletes develop. That’s why I can’t help but think about the incredible potential of our quarterback, Nico Iamaleava.

At 6’6” and roughly 216 pounds (thanks, Google), he’s already a physical specimen. But as I watch him play, I can’t help but imagine what he could be like if we added another 15 to 20 pounds of solid muscle to his frame. His dad looks like a massive dude, so I’d bet Nico has the genetics to fill out in all the right ways. If the staff can help him build that strength while maintaining his agility and running ability, I think we’re in for an exciting future with this young man. The sky’s the limit for him in this offense. Go Vols!

Nico has one of those skinny body types, he would have to be totally committed to putting on more weight , and idk why but guys his age just don’t care if they are walking skeletons. He won’t gain much weight until his junior or senior season and so on. 25 is usually the age you can really start bulking bc your Metabolism starts going down.

 

[orange parmejohn]

I look for the Vols to hit the portal fairly hard for some o. Line help

Any O line coaches in the portal?

 

[volfan411]

Hooker was smaller in size than Nico and he did pretty good. Being able to hit a receiver in stride is a talent the weight room can't give you.

Hooker was also outstanding at throwing receivers open which Nico hasn't grasped yet. I have to remind myself he is just a redshirt FR and hopefully improves with another off-season under his belt.

 

[Volanta]

May Nico will go on the Jared Lorenzen diet.

Lol not that far

 

[C-south]

Speaking of tempo, why was Tenn running such uptempo when the defense was so thin at talent an making the starters play 50-60 snaps a game, and now with depth, they are running the clock down before every snap?
It’s been a very good year, but in all honesty, Ala is the only top tier team we have beaten. Although few teams have that many top tier teams on their schedule. Ga is definitely an exception this year. Actually Texas’ best win so far is Vandy.

It was ok because we could outscore a lot of teams. The offense isn’t as good as it was.

 

[Volanta]

UT has a very highly regarded qb in the 2025 class and the no. 1 qb in the country for ‘26.

What are their names?

 

[C-south]

Doesn’t matter how much he improves if the OL and WR around him don’t improve also.

We just got clobbered by a team with less talent at wr and te than we have and most of the time they were running wide open. Nico has got to get rid of the ball, throw an accurate ball, and make it catchable.

 

[BigALWiLson]

He could become Josh Allen like IF he puts on 25 pounds of muscle. Not saying he will -
But he has the frame for it.

My concern is oline play. Not good this year at times - especially against SEC teams in road games.

Losing Mays is a major concern. I’m not sure we have what we need to succeed next year with oline play.

Also - until the line and Nico can go up tempo . . . This offense will be limited. Not up tempo makes this a MUCH easier offense to defend.

We are now on year two of a pedestrian offense. A third year of this . . . And recruits will notice.

I dont think it is Nico who can't or the line. I believe our WR's outside Bru and Thornton don't know where they are supposed to be unless it is scripted such as the first drives the last few weeks. To me Nico looks better just playing ball quickly

 

[adam.vol]

I am also worried about that. The current staff has not hit on a high school WR or an offensive lineman. I am not bashing the staff, just telling the truth.

We have the number one lineman coming next season. What exactly do you mean the coaching staff hasn’t hit on anyone? This isn’t a Penn State forum.

 

[Gandalf]

A lot of you might not know this, but I’m a former strength athlete, mainly in powerlifting. I’ve always been fascinated by strength and conditioning — whether it’s reading about it, performing it, or just watching athletes develop. That’s why I can’t help but think about the incredible potential of our quarterback, Nico Iamaleava.

At 6’6” and roughly 216 pounds (thanks, Google), he’s already a physical specimen. But as I watch him play, I can’t help but imagine what he could be like if we added another 15 to 20 pounds of solid muscle to his frame. His dad looks like a massive dude, so I’d bet Nico has the genetics to fill out in all the right ways. If the staff can help him build that strength while maintaining his agility and running ability, I think we’re in for an exciting future with this young man. The sky’s the limit for him in this offense. Go Vols!

For a Samoan, Nico is a shrimp.

He definitely needs to put on some weight but less IZ


and more Rock

 

[m1al]

May Nico will go on the Jared Lorenzen diet.

Ahhh, the Pillsbury Throw Boy...

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

We just got clobbered by a team with less talent at wr and te than we have and most of the time they were running wide open. Nico has got to get rid of the ball, throw an accurate ball, and make it catchable.

Our corners played pretty well the other night. It was our Safeties and LBs that were getting lost in coverage.

 

[BigALWiLson]

He has a tendency to Bazooka Joe short passes as well.

You guys are amazing. Nico played better than anyone outside of Sampson and ran for his life most of the night in Athens. Was it good enough ? Probably not however some guys failed to do their job that contributed but by all means keep harping on Nico.