The Tennessee Volunteers might’ve crushed the Florida Gators last Saturday, but don’t get too excited just yet. RJ Young has some serious doubts about whether Josh Heupel’s program is really set to dominate in the coming days. And spoiler alert: he’s got thoughts on quarterback Nico Iamaleava. Young took a deep dive on The Number One College Football Show and isn’t holding back. Tennessee might’ve been racking up wins, but according to Young, opposing defenses have already cracked their “secret code.” And that so-called “code” revolves around one thing: shutting down Iamaleava. “Defenses have figured out Tennessee football. Defenses have figured out Nico Iamaleava,” Young warned. Translation: the Volunteers’ QB might just be a little overrated. Here’s where things get real—Young claims that Iamaleava, instead of shining under pressure, is actually being forced into a protective bubble. The Volunteers have apparently gone into max-protect mode for him, which basically means they’re wrapping him in bubble wrap and hoping he doesn’t have to make too many tough choices. Instead of calling his own shots, he’s out there waiting for someone to get open and praying his O-line doesn’t collapse. And Young isn’t the only one throwing shade. Even College GameDay analyst David Pollack jumped in, questioning Iamaleava’s ability to get things done from the pocket, saying, “I think he’s got to learn to do damage from the pocket.” It’s like they’re saying, “Nico, time to stop running and start playing.” And sure, some might call this criticism unfair because the guy is putting up numbers—his 74.0% QBR and 65% completion rate with seven touchdowns aren’t exactly garbage. But just being decent isn’t enough in the SEC, and that’s where things get dicey. Even though he’s shown flashes of greatness, he’s also left a lot of room for improvement, and Young thinks opposing teams have found a way to exploit that.
But there’s one person still in Nico’s corner, and that’s former Alabama coach Nick Saban. Saban, spotting Iamaleava’s potential, offered up some sage advice: “Just do your job.” And by that, he means stop trying to be the hero on every play. Just distribute the ball, make the smart decisions, and let your teammates do their thing. Easy, right? We’ll see about that. With Alabama up next, Saban’s words might be exactly what Nico needs, but it’s crunch time to see if he’ll take the hint or crumble. So, is Nico Iamaleava a real Heisman contender or just the latest overhyped college football star? The answer is coming, and it’s going to be brutal. Buckle up, Vols fans—this ride’s about to get wild.
