Nick Saban points out the biggest concern about Tennessee Vols QB Nico Iamaleava in 2024

Former Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban has been around his fair share of five-star recruits. He knows that even if a player is highly touted, there's still a big learning curve in the SEC.

That's why it shouldn't be a surprise that Saban has a concern about Tennessee Vols redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava this fall.

Actually, it's not so much of a concern as it is something that Iamaleava has to prove (just like every new quarterback in the SEC).

Saban pointed out to WATE's Reece Van Haaften at SEC Media Days on Monday that Iamaleava has to show that he can manage tough road situations in the SEC.

"You're always a little bit concerned, or I was always a little bit concerned as a coach, regardless of what the reputation of the player was, when you had a new quarterback, how was he going to do?" said Saban when asked about Tennessee. " How was he going to manage the tough situations? Especially playing on the road in the SEC, which is really, really hard...to manage the noise and not create a bunch of negative plays that are going to put your team behind the 8-ball ."

Saban is right. We know all about Iamaleava's elite abilities as a quarterback. We know about the accurate arm, the impressive pocket awareness, the elusiveness, the leadership qualities, etc. But how will he handle 92,000 fans in Athens in prime time? How will he respond to a raucous crowd at Oklahoma? Or the quietness of Vanderbilt? (Sorry, Commodores fans. I couldn't resist.)

The Vols have struggled at times on the road under Josh Heupel (Florida and Alabama in 2023, Georgia and South Carolina in 2022). If Tennessee is going to win the SEC at any point under Heupel, they'll have to eliminate those let-down games on the road.

That's why it'll be critical for Iamaleava to quickly prove this season that playing on the road won't be a problem for the uber-talented former five-star recruit.

Related: LSU HC Brian Kelly gets real about losing former 5-star OL Lance Heard to Josh Heupel and the Tennessee Vols