In 2024, there will be multiple quarterbacks who will get their first crack at becoming full-time starters for their respective teams. In this case, we’re looking at four specific sophomores who look to be the next greats to hold the position at their programs. These four are Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleav Nico IamaleavaNico Iamaleava, Kansas State’s Avery Johnson, Oklahoma’s Jackson Arnold, and Michigan State’s Aidan Chiles.
If you’ve been anywhere around Knoxville or the Tennessee football program over the last year or more, you’ve likely heard the loud roars of “Nico” surface throughout campus and at games. For the class of 2023, Iamaleava came to the Vols as one of the highest-ranked recruits in the history of the program. He was rated as a consensus five-star, the No. 2 ranked player in the country, No. 2 quarterback, and No. 1 in the state of California, per 247sports.
Vols fans got just a small sample of Iamaleava during his freshman season last year. He got playing time in five games, completing 25-of-45 pass attempts for 314 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. But with Iamaleava, you can’t forget about his dual-threat abilities, as he also rushed for 71 yards on 20 attempts and three scores.
Most of Iamaleava’s playing time came in the Vols’ bowl game against Iowa in place of Joe Milton III, who opted out. The former five-star went 12-for-19 for 151 yards and one touchdown, with another 27 yards on the ground and three more touchdowns, not to mention winning the Citrus MVP award. No sophomore college football quarterback in the country will have more hype on him than Iamaleava in 2024.
