Everyone has received a gift from a friend or family member they have returned or thought about returning. It might have been grandma's gift bag of mushy mints or your mother-in-law getting a gift set of assorted nuts when you're allergic. It could be worse, but it could be better.
What would it be like if Tennessee had the opportunity to return or gift exchange anything after the 2024 season? The transfer portal is the gift that keeps on giving—and taking, so we can start there.
Tennessee's portal class last year wasn't flashy, but Josh Heupel brought in guys he needed who fit his system on both sides of the ball, and it worked out well for a few of them. Jaxson Moi, Chris Brazzell II, and Myles Kitselman meshed well on each side of the ball.
The best gift Tennessee received this year from the transfer portal is Jermod McCoy. He quickly became one of the best defensive backs in the SEC and was the anchor in Tennessee's secondary this year.
While McCoy is the best gift, Tennessee has received some duds. All gifts are not equal, and like in any sport, you can't be perfect.
Return: Transfer Portal "stars"
Exchange for: Consistent production
Tennessee had some big flops in the transfer portal this year. The biggest position that suffered from these flops was an offensive tackle. Tennessee signed Zalance Heard and John Campbell to hold down the tackle position this year, and it was less than ideal.
Heard and Campbell had their good moments and deserve credit where credit is due, but they weren't as good as they should have been with the "stars" attached to their names. They struggled throughout the year, and Heupel needs to target consistency over stars on the offensive line moving forward.
The run game was great throughout the year, but the pass protection was below average and inconsistent, forcing Nico to create something while on the run. Whether it was injuries and sloppy performances in certain games, Tennessee struggled to throw the ball partially because of the inconsistent offensive line play.
Heupel doesn't have to be flashy with his portal signings, but he does need to dip into the portal and find players who can bring consistent production. They don't have to be great. Tennessee just needs a couple of guys who can be good and protect the quarterback during pass protection.
We have seen Heupel bring in less-than-flashy transfer players who have excelled in Tennessee's system, while some considered elite players have not panned out as well. If Heupel can fuse elite talent with consistent production, Tennessee could be one of the most dangerous teams in the country moving forward.
Return: QB expectations in 2024
Exchange for: QB expectations in 2025
There's no hiding the expectations redshirt freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava had coming into the 2024 season. The five-star dual-threat quarterback from California came to Knoxville with national championship expectations before he hit the practice field because of the price tag that was associated with his signing.
While Tennessee won't win another national championship this year, it's not necessarily because of quarterback play, despite the blame being placed on his shoulders.
Nico put together the best season as a freshman quarterback in program history, with 2,616 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. This is likely good enough to be considered a top-ten season from a freshman quarterback in college football history.
Was Nico ever going to win a title as a freshman? Unlikely, but that immediately became the expectation with the explosive potential of Heupel's offense. Now that Nico has a full season under his belt and another offseason to develop, his expectations for 2024 should be exchanged for expectations for 2025.
He's now 11-3 as a starter and should have at least the same expectations for 2025 as he did this year. If he doesn't meet them, that's when it might be time to have a conversation with other five-stars sitting behind him, but I don't think that will be an issue with how Heupel develops quarterbacks.