Greg McElroy Names SEC Program That Has Failed To 'Capture Nation's Attention'
Tennessee has won nine or more games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2015-16 under head coach Josh Heupel. He also led the Volunteers to the first 11-win season since 2001, two seasons ago.
Despite ending the losing streak against Alabama, injuries prevented the Volunteers from competing for the SEC Championship. After finally beating the Crimson Tide, Tennessee fell flat against Georgia. Then, disaster struck as Hendon Hooker suffered a torn ACL during a 63-38 road loss to South Carolina.
The losses to the Bulldogs and Gamecocks would keep Tennessee from making the first College Football Playoff appearance in program history. The Volunteers relied on Joe Milton to finish the season. He led them to wins over Vanderbilt and Clemson in the Orange Bowl to cap off the year.
ESPN's Greg McElroy discussed why the nation should pay more attention to Tennessee and quarterback Nico Iamaleava on the latest edition of Always College Football.
"A team that might have crazy upside this offseason because of the likely improved play they're gonna get at the quarterback spot," McElroy said. "And while I think that Nico Iamaleava might have a growing pain or two, you could make a case right now that his mobility, his acceleration, his ability to drive the ball down the field, his ability to be more accurate on the underneath stuff. He's got a changeup, unlike Joe Milton, his predecessor."
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava holds a football at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennesse before kickoff. © Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
In McElroy's eyes, people need to focus more on the Volunteers in 2024. The team is returning multiple starters on both sides of the ball. Players like EDGE James Pearce, wide receiver Bru McCoy, wide receiver Squirrel White, offensive lineman Cooper Mays, and others will be back in the orange and white this season.
"I look at Tennessee, and while Tennessee fans are bullish about a potential playoff spot, I don't feel like Tennessee's really captured the nation's attention. ...There isn't really a quarterback competition," McElroy said.
"They aren't a ton of question marks that you have on defense. They have James Pearce back. If not for Mykel Williams, Pearce might be the best edge defender in the SEC, and statistically speaking, he was."
At the moment, people are focusing on Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Ole Miss. McElroy wants everyone to start taking a closer look at Tennessee, however.
"I think you look at the SEC right now. Everyone's talking about Alabama and Georgia to an extent, even though Georgia, like I said, is flying under the radar. Tons of conversation about the Texas Longhorns and Ole Miss," McElroy said. "But there's not a whole lot of discussions about what Tennessee might ultimately be."