Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava is stepping into the spotlight as one of CFB’s premier QBs. The redshirt sophomore put on a show last season, racking up 2,616 yards and 19 TDs while leading Josh Heupel‘s Vols to their first-ever CFP berth. However, since high school, he’s been labeled a future NFL star, and now, the hype is only growing. While his arm talent is elite, his poise is unshakable, his draft stock? Climbing fast. Now, come next April, don’t be surprised when his name is one of the first off the board.
But here’s the twist—despite Nico Iamaleava’s breakout season, he didn’t even crack CBS Sports’ list of top returning QBs for 2025. Yes, not top ten, and not even honorable mention. That’s right—Tom Fornelli’s rankings included 5 honorable mentions, and Iamaleava’s name was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, big names like Arch Manning, Carson Beck, and Drew Allar made the cut. As of now, for a QB who led Tennessee to its first-ever CFP, the omission feels like a slap in the face and that hit Josh Heupel hard.
Meanwhile, over on The Ultimate College Football Show from 247Sports, Tennessee got some big news about its star QB commit, Faizon Brandon. Well, the Vols’ future signal-caller has held the No. 1 spot in the 2026 rankings for quite some time, and that isn’t changing anytime soon. And when Emily Proud confirmed, “We have no change at the top of 2026—it is still quarterback Faizon Brandon,” the praise started rolling in. 247Sports’ Hudson Standish had nothing but admiration for Brandon, breaking down his elite talent, sharp decision-making, and sky-high potential.
College Football QB Power Rankings ahead of the 2025 season per @CBSSportshttps://t.co/pqGo8GZAj8 pic.twitter.com/Tq78ZLByTy
— On3 (@On3sports) March 5, 2025
Hudson said, “This is somebody who completed 77% of his passes on 214 attempts, 35 passing touchdowns to only two interceptions. Watched his quarterfinal, semifinal, and state championship game, all against MaxPreps Top 100 schools, and he is just an elite game manager. And while that term has normally been used as a little bit of an insult or a dig, it’s just Faison. Brandon knows what he’s doing. He can push the ball downfield. He’s electric when he has to use his legs. And then we recently saw him when he came to the All-American Bowl Combine, and I’m not sure if he misplaced a pass on the day. His accuracy at the second and third levels of the defense has gone way up, and you can kind of see it just in that setting—pretty wild.” As of now, Vols fans have every reason to be excited—Brandon isn’t just a top recruit, he’s a game-changer in the making.
However, Hudson Standish wasn’t alone in his praise—Tom Loy doubled down with even more insight. Well, he highlighted just how close Faizon Brandon was to committing to Bama before a sudden shift kept him locked in with Tennessee. On top of that, Loy made it clear that LSU and UNC are pushing hard, but Josh Heupel’s Tennessee remains in full control. “I do not think he’s even wavering in the slightest,” said Loy.
Safe to say, Brandon isn’t just committed—he’s actively recruiting other top talent to join him in Knoxville. Right now, with his leadership and star power, the Vols could be building something special for the future. And as the Vols’ QB future shines bright, an NFL coach just made a bold statement about Vols—one that should have Vols fans feeling even more confident in Josh Heupel’s vision.
NFL insiders are overjoyed about Josh Heupel
Before Josh Heupel arrived in 2021, Vols was stuck in neutral, averaging just 7.5 wins per season for nearly two decades. But under his leadership, the Vols have skyrocketed from an SEC afterthought to a legitimate playoff contender. As of now, with a high-powered offense and top-tier recruiting, Heupel has Tennessee back in the national spotlight—and they’re just getting started.
According to Brooks Austin of Vols on Sports Illustrated, an NFL coach at the combine made a bold statement about the Vols. The NFL coach said, “That program (Tennessee) for the first time in a long time is smart. They aren’t cutting any corners. For years, that fan base has been a circular firing squad to their own detriment. That new leadership and coaching regime is just building. They are getting guys and making moves, but the biggest thing you can say is that it is a crime against college football when Tennessee doesn’t have talent and coaching, and they finally have both on Rocky Top. That program needed discipline, and Josh provides it.”
Right now, for a program that fought its way back to national prominence, that’s a game-changing statement. And while the finish wasn’t ideal, the future is bright. With Nico Iamaleava—one of the nation’s top QBs—leading the charge under Josh Heupel, Tennessee is built to compete at the highest level. Now, all eyes are on the Vols to see how they perform this season.
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