A lot has changed for the Tennessee football program since its season ending in a loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff last December.
National perception has changed, too.
TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM
The Vols, who finished the 2024 season ranked in the top 10 of final Associated Press Top 25, were No. 19 in ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early” rankings in January.
Tennessee was absent in the outlet’s post spring top 25 on Thursday, though, the change coming after starting quarterback Nico Iamaleava bolted to UCLA via the transfer portal last month and a number of key losses on a top 10 defense a year ago.
ESPN writer Mark Schlabach cited the departure of Iamaleava as the main reason for the Vols’ dropping out of the rankings.
Iamaleava, a heralded five-star prospect in Tennessee’s 2023 signing class, passed for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions in his lone season as the Vols’ starter.
Twelve of Iamaleava’s touchdown passes came against Power 4 teams, and he combined for eight scores vs. Chattanooga, Kent State and UTEP.
Tennessee’s offense struggled at times, going four-straight SEC games without a first half touchdown midway through the season.
Those struggles were due in part to miscommunication between Iamaleava and an inconsistent wide receiving corps.
Much of the Vols’ offensive success came from running back Dylan Sampson, who had a record-breaking season.
Sampson is off to the NFL, and three of Tennessee’s starting receivers are no longer with the program.
There is a lot of unproven potential on that side of the ball for the Vols heading into 2025. Chris Brazzell II is the returning leader, with former five-star Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley expected to play bigger roles.
DeSean Bishop had a strong redshirt freshman season last year, and will compete with Peyton Lewis and Duke transfer Star Thomas for first team reps at running back.
But quarterback undoubtedly remains the biggest question mark for Tennessee.
After Iamaleava left the day before the Vols’ spring game, Tennessee was left with just two scholarship players at the position in redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger and freshman newcomer George MacIntyre—a four star recruit that enrolled in January.
MORE FROM VOLREPORT: Where Tennessee football is ranked in Sporting News Post-Spring Top 25
Josh Heupel made clear following the spring game that the Vols would pursue an experienced quarterback out of the transfer portal, and in an ironic twist, landed ex-Appalachian State and UCLA signal caller Joey Aguilar.
In terms of real-game experience, Aguilar has the edge. He started two seasons with the Mountaineers and broke passing and scoring records in 2023, totaling 3,575 yards and 33 touchdowns that year.
Aguilar passed for 3,003 yards, 23 touchdowns and 14 interceptions last season.
Aguilar transferred to UCLA in January, but after the Bruins brought in Iamaleava, re-entered the portal in April.
Tennessee’s upcoming quarterback battle will headline the offseason and fall camp in August before the Vols open their season against Syracuse in the Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Aug. 30.
– TALK ABOUT IT IN THE ROCKY TOP FORUM.
– ENJOY VOLREPORT WITH A PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION.
– SUBSCRIBE TO THE VOLREPORT YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
– FOLLOW VOLREPORT ON TWITTER: @TennesseeRivals, @ByNoahTaylor, @RyanTSylvia, @Dale_Dowden, @ShayneP_Media.
