Tennessee didn’t select Nico Iamaleava to be among its contingent at SEC media days, but that did little to contain the hype for the Vols’ ballyhooed redshirt freshman quarterback.

The Nico train is out of the station, and ESPN’s Greg McElroy jumped into the conductor’s seat this week when he predicted Iamaleava will be a Heisman Trophy finalist. That’s lofty praise for a guy with one career start, but Iamaleava oozes talent.

On today’s episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams outline Iamaleava’s path to becoming a Heisman finalist and predict whether he’ll be among those in New York City.

While no one expects Iamaleava to wilt, part of his Heisman candidacy will be hitched to Tennessee’s playoff status.

So, which side of the Heisman finalist cut does Iamaleava fall on? The hosts issue a split verdict.

Tennessee didn’t select Nico Iamaleava to be among its contingent at SEC media days, but that did little to contain the hype for the Vols’ ballyhooed redshirt freshman quarterback.
The Nico train is out of the station, and <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/football/2024/07/17/nico-iamaleava-heisman-greg-mcelroy-tennessee-football-espn-sec-network/73705602007/" aria-label="Link ESPN’s Greg McElroy jumped into the conductor’s seat">ESPN’s Greg McElroy jumped into the conductor’s seat</a> this week when he predicted Iamaleava will be a Heisman Trophy finalist. That’s lofty praise for a guy with one career start, but Iamaleava oozes talent.
On today’s episode, hosts <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://x.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> and <a href="https://x.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> outline Iamaleava’s path to becoming a Heisman finalist and predict whether he’ll be among those in New York City.
While no one expects Iamaleava to wilt, part of his Heisman candidacy will be hitched to Tennessee’s playoff status.
So, which side of the Heisman finalist cut does Iamaleava fall on? The hosts issue a split verdict.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

Greg McElroy hypes Nico Iamaleava’s Heisman Trophy campaign. Is Tennessee quarterback deserving?

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