Josh Heupel addresses leadership void following Nico Iamaleava departure

Quarterback is a position that coaches often turn to for leadership. So, with Nico Iamaleava leaving the Tennessee Volunteers in the spring, there is a void that head coach Josh Heupel will need to address.

Of course, Iamaleava isn’t the only key Vol from last year’s College Football Playoff team to move on from the offensive side of the ball. It just means that Heupel is turning to a larger group of new leaders on offense than previously expected.

“Some of those guys have been gone for four months now,” Josh Heupel said. “I think leadership is something that we’re continuing to grow on that side of the football. Miles Kitselman – really mature, great command, great presence, ability to demand things from the guys around him –  is somebody that’s really strong.”

Miles Kitselman is a senior tight end for Tennessee. He previously played at the JUCO level and with the Alabama Crimson Tide. Now in his second season with the Volunteers, he’s looking to make an impact in multiple ways. Josh Heupel also took the time to highlight Lance Heard, a junior offensive lineman who is in his second season at Tennessee after starting his career with the LSU Tigers.

“Up front, Lance Heard is developing some of that,” Heupel said. “But that’s my job with the leadership council, our young shadow warriors to continue to grow those guys throughout the rest of the season.”

Despite those leaders stepping up on offense, Heupel did admit that the defense is ahead of the offense in that regard. Still, there is plenty of time this offseason for Tennessee to continue to grow and improve before the season.

“In general, we’re probably stronger, more mature on the defensive side of the ball,” Heupel said. “But we’ve got to continue to grow that on the offensive side of the ball here, and we’ll continue to do that in the next four weeks before we get out and when we get back in the summer.”

Paul Finebaum expresses concern in Tennessee for 2025 season after loss of Nico Iamaleava

While Josh Heupel was able to replace Nico Iamaleava with Joey Aguilar at quarterback, there are still major questions about Tennessee going into 2025. Those are concerns that Paul Finebaum recently highlighted.

“I think you have to be worried about Tennessee. I know that I’m probably not breaking a new story here but what is the quarterback situation really going to be like? Listen, [Joey] Aguilar is serviceable. They have two backups who have no experience, but I think that’s a tremendous drop-off,” Finebaum said.

“Considering Georgia is right out of the shoot. At Alabama, at Florida. You have to be a little bit worried about them.”