Evaluating Tennessee football’s 2023 class at dead period: QBs
Final take
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With the commitment of Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee football is set at quarterback past 2022. Josh Heupel has a player with starting experience who will be a sixth-year senior, a four-star who committed in his 2022 class and then Iamaleava, a five-star in this class. It’s hard to think not one of those players will pan out for 2023.
However, that doesn’t mean the Vols don’t have work to do when it comes to adding talent at the position. That’s because Milton will be gone in 2024, and whichever player loses the battle between Iamaleava and Jackson will likely transfer out to another school. Navy Shuler will likely do the same if he doesn’t win the job, which doesn’t seem likely.
Prediction
Despite the need for one more quarterback to at least have a solid roster in 2024, Heupel won’t pick up anybody else at the position this year, at least on the recruiting trail. There is too much competition as it is, and nothing will open up at this point until 2025. That’s too far out, assuming everybody is back next year.
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Now, Heupel could still add talent. It’s possible Tennessee football picks up another quarterback in the transfer portal in the summer of 2024. There’s plenty of time for them to add another player, and given where they are now, they just don’t need any urgency at quarterback. With efforts needed elsewhere, that means they won’t pick up another one in this class.