“Nico Iamaleava made it into the top 100 as well.”
ESPN has released their top 100 college football players for the upcoming 2024 season, and a Tennessee Volunteer tops the list. Tennessee’s new quarterback, Nico Iamaleava, also made the cut despite having only started one game last season.
92. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava
A top-25 recruit in 2023, Iamaleava showcased his potential by completing 28 of 45 passes for 314 yards and two touchdowns, while also scrambling nine times for 72 yards and rushing for three touchdowns in the bowl game against Iowa. He appears to be the complete package.
As a five-star prospect, Iamaleava has everything needed to become Josh Heupel’s next successful quarterback. His physical abilities — a strong arm and athleticism — along with the leadership qualities we’ve heard about, give Tennessee a lot of promise this season. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Iamaleava could be the key to the Vols’ success this year.
Given how quarterbacks typically thrive in Heupel’s system, it’s easy to understand the excitement leading into the fall.
1. Edge James Pearce
Entering his third season at Tennessee, the 6-foot-5, 243-pound Pearce is regarded as the top pass rusher in the country, despite having only started three games in his career. With 16.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks over his first two seasons, he’s projected to be a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Last season, Pearce earned first-team All-SEC honors from both the AP and coaches, finishing fifth nationally with 38 total pressures.
Pearce has edged out players like Mason Graham, Travis Hunter, Will Johnson, and Luther Burden for the top spot in the rankings. A former five-star recruit, Pearce burst onto the scene as a sophomore. The agile and dynamic edge rusher dominated Virginia in the season opener and maintained his high level of play throughout the year. His standout performance came against South Carolina, where he consistently pressured Spencer Rattler.
In total, Pearce was credited with 9.5 sacks last season, but it was his ability to generate pressure that powered the Tennessee defense. He capped off his breakout season with a pick-six in the Citrus Bowl.
Now, the stakes are even higher. Pearce is projected to be a top-five pick in next year’s NFL Draft. With another strong season this fall, he could solidify that status.
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