Tennessee’s return to the upper echelons of college football has been defined, in large part, by its stability under center. From Josh Dobbs to Hendon Hooker, the Volunteers have had more gems than most at the quarterback position.
Freshman Nico Iamaleava figures to be the latest in the line of high-profile Tennessee signal-callers to make it big. He may only be a (redshirt) freshman. But Iamaleava proved himself to be one of his conference’s most gifted passers, tallying 2,512 yards and 19 touchdowns while completing 65.2 percent of his passes in his first year of serious action.
Where Iamaleava goes, the Vols tend to follow. He played a sizable role in wins against NC State, Oklahoma and Alabama — all of whom ranked in the AP Top 25. Conventional wisdom says that if Tennessee has any chance of advancing far in the College Football Playoff, he’d have to do the same there, as well.
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But what happens if Iamaleava is out of commission? The Sporting News has you answer. Here’s what you need to know about the Volunteers’ QB depth chart behind Iamaleava.
Tennessee QB depth chart
Here’s a look at the Volunteers’ current QB depth chart heading into the College Football Playoff:
- Nico Iamaleava, freshman
- Gaston Moore, senior
- Jake Merklinger, freshman
- Navy Shuler, senior
The Vols are led by Iamaleava, one of the SEC’s most impressive passers during the 2024 campaign. The redshirt freshman figures to be a fixture in Tennessee’s pocket for as long as he desires, assuming he stays healthy.
The Volunteers’ No. 2, Gaston Moore, has spent four years with Josh Heupel’s side, initially joining the organization in 2021 after transferring from UCF. He’s only garnered a handful of appearances during his spell in Knoxville, most recently turning up for the side in relief of Iamaleava after the standout went down with a concussion against Mississippi State. Moore has completed 16-of-27 passes (59.3 percent) for 201 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions this year.
Jake Merklinger is the next man up behind Moore. The 19-year old has played in two games as a true freshman, making appearances against Chattanooga and Kent State. He came to campus a fairly highly-touted recruit — Merklinger received four-star billing on account of his exploits at Calvary Day School (GA).
Rounding off Heupel’s list of potential QB options is Navy Shuler, a senior who also turned out for Appalachian State during his college career. If Shuler’s name sounds familiar, that’s because it is; he’s the son of Tennessee great Heath Shuler and the latest in a line of five Shuler family members to rock the orange and white.
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