What will help Nico Iamaleava in 2025?

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Nico Iamaleava did everything he could to lead Tennessee to a victory in the College Football Playoff.

And that burden was obviously far too heavy for the Vols quarterback.

The bottom line: Iamaleava needs help if Tennessee (10-3) hopes to return to the CFP and advance deeper in the league than this 42-17 loss to Ohio State (11-2) on Saturday.

Iamaleava needs better wide receivers because he couldn’t lead the way against Ohio State’s elite secondary. He needs better offensive tackles because they couldn’t protect him against the Buckeyes’ potent pass rush.

And Iamaleava may need a new running back if Dylan Sampson is taken in the NFL draft instead of returning next season. The Vols were unable to compensate for the loss of Sampson, the SEC Offensive Player of the Year, as he was sidelined for most of this game due to injury.

Iamaleava rushed for two touchdowns. But in an anemic effort for the Vols offense, he passed for a season-low 104 yards.

“I’ll let (coach Josh Heupel) answer the question about (improving) the personnel,” offensive coordinator Joey Halzle said. “But (the offensive plan) goes through your quarterback. That’s why everything is like that with guys in the NFL. It’s about providing for a team around him.

“When you have a quarterback that can move you forward, it’s our job to make sure we have the skills and the plan to allow him to be at his best.”

Josh Heupel knows Nico Iamaleava needs help

Admittedly, Ohio State has the highest-scoring defense and arguably the most talented roster in college football. But that’s the benchmark by which the Vols will have to measure themselves as they look to continue their steep upward trajectory under Heupel.

UT has won 30 games in the last three seasons. That’s a huge accomplishment for a program that had a losing record and was facing NCAA probation when Heupel took over in 2021.

But the next step won’t happen if the Vols can’t reload around Iamaleava and maximize the former five-star recruit’s talent. And that takes into account that it also has a lot of room to grow.

“There are some things (Iamaleava) wants back and that could be a read, a throw. But he kept playing and fighting,” said Heupel. “There were a lot of moving parts in our staff around him. When you play this position, you have to let the guys around you play at a high level too.”

This is where Tennessee needs to upgrade around Nico Iamaleava

Iamaleava needs to step up his game in 2025. But he showed flashes, and the Vols went with him.

Assuming Iamaleava develops into the high-caliber quarterback he should be, UT will need to improve some key positions around him.

Left tackle Lance Heard, an LSU transfer and former five-star recruit, needs to reach his potential. His development will be a big priority this offseason.

Five-star signee David Sanders, the No. 1 tackle in the 2025 class, could compete for the starting right tackle position as a freshman. He reported early and stood on the sidelines with his new team at the CFP game.

Five-star freshman receiver Mike Matthews played against Ohio State but did not catch a pass from Iamaleava. They need to get up to speed this offseason, and the Vols need to add a dynamic wide receiver or two via the transfer portal.

“We need to find some guys (at wide receiver) who will step up and make plays, and we will,” Heupel said.

If all of these pieces fall into place, UT could survive the potential loss of Sampson to the NFL in the backfield. But those are still big holes to fill in a single offseason. And it is clear that the offense has become boring without the use of playmakers.

“Me, Coach (Halzle) and Coach Heupel, we’re constantly having conversations about how we can excel in this offense,” Iamaleava said. “And that will continue to be the case this offseason.”

It’s not just about talent. Vols lose a major league class.

But reloading is a two-fold equation for the Vols.

Not only do they need to step up in these key positions, but they also need to replace valuable veterans they relied on during Heupel’s tenure.

At least 17 seniors will not return in 2025 because they have exhausted their eligibility, and many absences will impact Iamaleava.

All-SEC center Cooper Mays is at the top of that list. He was the protector and partner of UT quarterbacks Hendon Hooker, Joe Milton and eventually Iamaleava for those 30 wins in three seasons.

ADAMS:Tennessee fans take on Ohio State. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for the Vols

“I know (Iamaleava) is a special kid, extremely talented,” Mays said. “He is one of the most talented football players I have ever been around. His maturity at a young age is also impressive. I know he’s going to be great no matter what pieces are added around him.”

The transfer portal closes for new players on December 28th and assumes the Vols will be active. Your first question should be whether a player can help get the best out of Iamaleava.

Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. e-mail[email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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