How the Tennessee Volunteers Can Go From 'Wild Card' to Contender

The Tennessee Volunteers are difficult to project heading into the season. The team's 2023 campaign disappointed after a 5-1 start. The Volunteers finished the year with a 9-4 record.

One college football analyst discussed how the team can get back to national contention in head coach Josh Heupel's fourth season in Knoxville.

Josh Pate shared how the Volunteers can break out this year on " The Late Kick with Josh Pate ." Pate indicates that the first-year starting quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, could have a huge impact.

"Tennessee, total wild card team. Even their folks will tell you behind the scenes, as they did in the spring ... 'We know what we've got physically in Nico Iamaleava,' the quarterback."

Pate indicated that Iamaleava taking command of leading the offense would be an important part of how the Volunteers are viewed.

"There's this million dollar question, always, with a first-year starter at quarterback: How does he process, and how does he just deal with that spotlight? Is he just a player on the team, or is it his team? And they really believe Nico Iamaleava is that kind of guy."

The physical tools are present for Iamaleava. The production was promising in limited playing time last year.

Iamaleava completed 28 of 45 passing attempts for 314 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. The projected starter added 20 carries for 71 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

The expectations will be high for the former five-star recruit in Knoxville. The Volunteers are not far removed from an 11-2 campaign and upset win over Alabama in 2022.

The team will look to return to similar heights in the upcoming season. Tennessee will open against Chattanooga on Aug. 31.

Related: Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer Discusses QB Jalen Milroe's Work Ethic at SEC Media Days