If you voted on a Tennessee football MVP in preseason, the result wouldn’t be close.
Everything starts at quarterback. If you’re deficient there, your ceiling can only be so high.
You don’t know how high the ceiling might be with redshirt freshman Nico Iamaleava running the Tennessee offense. But there’s a chance it could be Heisman high.
Even though he played sparingly in the 2023 regular season, he starred as a runner and passer in a 35-0 Citrus Bowl victory over Iowa. That was enough to put him on the Heisman Trophy board. Some oddsmakers have him in the top six if you’re interested in placing a bet.
So, it’s safe to say – with his position and talent – Iamaleava is the Vols preseason MVP. Ranking other players according to their value isn’t as easy. But here’s how I would rank them:
Cooper Mays: Tennessee fans realized the value of Tennessee’s veteran center last season when he was sidelined by injury early-on. His absence proved crucial in a September loss to Florida in The Swamp.
His experience in the middle of Heupel’s up-tempo offense would be hard to replace if he went down again this season.
Dylan Sampson: He has shown great potential while biding his time behind running backs Jaylen Wright and Jabari Small the past two seasons.
His cutting ability and speed could make him more of a big-play threat than his predecessors. So, he’s well suited for coach Josh Heupel’s offense, which can create as many opportunities for running backs as wide receivers.
Sampson is set to share the rushing load with Can Seldon, who had only 25 carries last season. But the Vols don’t have as much proven depth at the position as last season.
That makes Sampson more valuable.
James Pearce: The preseason All-American will anchor Tennessee’s front-line defense. He had 14.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and an interception return for a touchdown.
His pass-rushing ability will demand special attention from every opposing offense and create more opportunities for his teammates.
As good as Pearce is, the Vols wouldn’t be lost without him. Joshua Josephs, a former four-star recruit, also has a knack for finding his way to the quarterback. He had 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks last season as a backup.
Lance Heard: Unlike Mays, Heard is a new addition to Tennessee’s offensive line. However, he could prove to be valuable right away.
A former five-star recruit, Heard signed with LSU in 2023. With two outstanding tackles ahead of him, he entered the transfer portal and eventually chose Tennessee over Oklahoma.
John Campbell gives the Vols an experienced tackle. But if they hope to protect Iamaleava, they need to be fortified on both flanks.
That’s why Heard’s addition is so important.
Keenan Pili: The Vols missed his veteran presence after he was sidelined by injury in the season opener against Virginia. They need the BYU transfer to stay healthy since inside linebacker isn’t a position of strength.
Pili was a run stopper at BYU, where he had more than 60 tackles in two different seasons. Tennessee could use more of the same.
Even though he has played in only one game as a Vol, he’s also a team leader. That’s why he was one of the program’s three player representatives at SEC Media Days.
ADAMS: Got any advice for Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel? My literary contributors do.
Bru McCoy: A physical wide receiver, he’s also a factor in Tennessee’s run game with his blocking. He had just 17 catches and played in only five games last season because of injury.
McCoy, who had 52 catches in 2022, will head up an experienced, productive receiving corps.
You might have noticed my list doesn’t include a couple of productive, experienced defensive linemen, tackles Omari Thomas and Omarr Norman-Lott. That’s not a reflection of their ability.
But Tennessee’s defensive front is a team strength. And it’s deep enough that the Vols could lose a player and not suffer terribly from the loss.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Aside from Nico, what players matter most for Tennessee football?
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