I’ve covered Tennessee athletics in some way, shape or form since 2001. I’ve been there for the good, the bad and the ugly as a sports anchor, reporter, photographer and writer. I’ve even written a book about Tennessee football called “Decade of Dysfunction.” It’s available on Amazon. Check it out. Like Latrell Sprewell, I have a family to feed.

I throw my resume out there so you can read that I have credibility when it comes to being Tennessee football knowledgeable. So, you can believe me when I tell you that Vols QB Nico Iamaleava is going to win the next 4 Heisman Trophies.

Well, maybe 3 if he goes to the NFL after the 2026 season. But come on … if you win 3, you’d have to come back for a 4th, right?

Am I kidding? Of course. But #VolTwitter knows what’s up. Iamaleava just made his first career college start against one of the best defenses in college football Monday and looked … pretty darn good in leading Tennessee to a 35-0 blowout against Iowa in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl.

Iamaleava completed 12-of-19 passes for 151 yards against the Hawkeyes. There was also a 4th quarter TD pass of 18 yards to McCallan Castles. It looked like he would have had a long TD pass in the 3rd quarter as well, but Ramel Keyton stopped running for some reason.

Tennessee was without its top 2 RBs for this game, with Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small both opting out of the postseason. Dylan Sampson and Cam Seldon took their places and gave us a look at the 2024 rushing attack. If this game was any indication there’s no reason to worry, UT fans. Sampson and Seldon combined for 188 yards on the ground on 33 carries against an Iowa team that only allowed 102.5 rushing yards per game this year.

Another solid sign for the future of the Tennessee run game? Iamaleava. He showed the willingness and ability to run the football, with 15 carries for 27 yards. That might not sound like a lot, but most important, he scored 3 rushing TDs. This was a wrinkle we saw a lot with Josh Dobbs and again with Hendon Hooker, and the UT offenses were flying high during those years. Like Dobbs and Hooker, Iamaleava is more inclined than some other QBs to run, which will make this Tennessee offense even more dangerous in the years to come.

Now, the flip side to that coin is that Iamaleava is taking too many hits, which is not ideal. But let’s keep things positive, shall we?

“I’ve always had confidence in this team,” Iamaleava told ESPN after the bowl game in which he was named MVP. “I’m glad we got the win, got our seniors a ring. Since I have gotten here, I have gotten nothing but love from the coaching staff. This is the start of our 2024 year, and I think we have a good mindset.”

“I just think as a young player, the moment, nothing is too big for him,” said Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel. “He’s very in control and does a great job. He related to all the guys, every position, every unit… he’s a dynamic leader already as a young guy. Really pleased with his poise and playmaking ability today.”

The good news for Tennessee is that the offense looks to be in terrific hands for the next few years. There is enough talent already on the roster for the Vols to once again be a top 20 group nationally. Plus, more 4-star and 5-star skill players will want to come to Tennessee to play with Iamaleava in the future.

The bad news (and this is the part that will give coaches even more gray hairs) is that for the next 8 months, the Nico Iamaleava hype train is going to do nothing but gain speed. Playoff or bust.

Yes, basketball season is here (the Vols are a Final Four contender) and baseball season is getting closer (the Vols should make another run at Omaha), but that only takes up so much bandwidth in the minds and hearts of Vols fans.

Buckle up. The Nico Iamaleava era has arrived.