Season-opening performances don't get much better than that. It's Nico's time, and Tennessee Vols fans are rejoicing. Iamaleava checked all the boxes in Tennessee's win against Chattanooga. He's the real deal. 

Call him 'Heismanaleava?' 

Maybe we're jumping the gun on that one. Just by a smidge.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, John Adams and Adam Sparks revisit Iamaleava's splendid showing in Week 1 and what it means for the Vols' playoff aspirations. Tennessee didn't answer all the questions against Chattanooga. We'll get a better feel for its defense, the secondary in particular, when the Vols face North Carolina State on Saturday.

As for the Nico hype train? It's rumbling down the tracks. All gas, no brakes.

Season-opening performances don't get much better than that. It's Nico's time, and Tennessee Vols fans are rejoicing. Iamaleava checked all the boxes in Tennessee's win against Chattanooga. He's the real deal. 
Call him '<a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/08/31/nico-iamaleava-tennessee-football-heismanaleava-heisman-trophy/74850636007/" aria-label="Link Heismanaleava">Heismanaleava</a>?' 
Maybe we're jumping the gun on that one. Just by a smidge.
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://x.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://x.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> and <a href="https://x.com/AdamSparks" aria-label="Link Adam Sparks">Adam Sparks</a> revisit Iamaleava's splendid showing in Week 1 and what it means for the Vols' playoff aspirations. Tennessee didn't answer all the questions against Chattanooga. We'll get a better feel for its defense, the secondary in particular, when the <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/09/04/sec-football-predictions-nc-state-vs-tennessee-texas-michigan-alabama/75007569007/" aria-label="Link Vols face North Carolina State">Vols face North Carolina State</a> on Saturday.
As for the Nico hype train? It's rumbling down the tracks. All gas, no brakes.

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.

We're talking Vols' Nico Iamaleava as 'Heismanaleava,' but are we overreacting?

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