By Cole Kruger
One of the most highly touted QB prospects in recent memory made his full-time starting debut for the Tennessee Volunteers in Week 1. QB Nico Iamaleava looked like the real deal last Saturday against Chattanooga, completing 22 of 28 passes for 314 yards and 3 TDs, all in the first half.
This weekend, Iamaleava and the 14th ranked Volunteers will play on prime time ABC television against Grayson McCall and NC State in neutral Charlotte. Tennessee head coach Josh Huepel is no stranger to big games, but for Iamaleava, this will be his first true test and it comes very early in the season.
The Vols opened up as 4-point favorites against NC State, but have since moved to 10-point favorites. Many aren’t giving NC State a chance in this one, simply because of how dominant Tennessee looked last week. McCall is in his first season as the Wolfpack’s signal caller after transferring from Coastal Carolina, where he was a 3-time Sun Belt Player of the Year. He said this week that he is “ready for the challenge” against the Volunteers, as he most likely knows the pressure is on NC State to hang with a mighty SEC opponent.
If Iamaleava is prepared to play under the lights and take on his first Power 5 opponent, Tennessee should have no problem taking care of business against NC State. With a win, the Tennessee hype train could be off the rails and Iamaleava may put himself in early Heisman contention.
