A repeat nightmare Heisman Trophy scenario could be in play for the Tennessee Vols

It's still extremely early in the 2024 season -- only a third of the season has been played thus far -- but Heisman Trophy candidates are already starting to emerge and Tennessee Vols quarterback Nico Iamaleava is on the short list of players that have a legitimate chance to win the award.

For now, though, the favorite to win the award appears to be Colorado defensive back/wide receiver Travis Hunter.

Hunter might be the most talented overall player in college football. The former five-star recruit is a difference-maker on both sides of the ball. And there are plenty of folks who think he should win the award later this year ( such as On3's Ari Wasserman ).

You can probably already see where this is going.

There's a very real chance that Iamaleava could have a tremendous season and lead the Vols to the College Football Playoff and come up short in the Heisman Trophy race because of a two-way player.

It would essentially be the exact same thing that happened to Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning in 1997 when he finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting to Michigan's Charles Woodson, a defensive back who also played on offense and returned kicks.

Manning probably should've won the award in 1997, but the allure of an all-around player who impacted the game in all three phases won out over a generational quarterback.

If Hunter continues to play at the same level he has during the first month of the season, it'll be tough to argue against him winning the award. One thing that could work in Iamaleava's favor, though, would be Colorado finishing with a poor record (the Buffaloes, however, are 3-1 so far this season and their schedule is Charmin soft).

Something that will work against Iamaleava is the fact that this will be Hunter's final season in college (there's virtually no chance he returns for his senior season...and he shouldn't). Voters might be inclined to vote for Hunter over Iamaleava since the Tennessee quarterback will have at least one more season in college.

Again, there's still a lot of season left to be played. Plenty can (and likely will) change over the next few months. But for now, Tennessee's nightmare Heisman scenario from almost 30 years ago is in play to be repeated again in 2024.

Related: Former Alabama RB Mark Ingram points out the trait that he thinks makes the Tennessee Vols 'dangerous'