Tennessee Football: Citrus Bowl Proves Vols to be CFB Playoff Contender in 2024 with Nico Iamaleava

Tennessee dominated the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl behind strong play from quarterback Nico Iamaleava and edge rusher James Pearce as the Vols hammered Iowa 35-0. The play form both of those individuals shows that Tennessee will be a force in 2024 and be a contender for the 12-team College Football Playoff and maybe even an SEC Championship. More on the Citrus Bowl win and scoring plays all on a Wednesday Locked on Vols. Locked on Vols is your go-to Tennessee Volunteers podcast, available on KZbin or wherever you find your podcasts.
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[@jebblue8654]

Eric, stop worrying about your voice not being normal! We are Adults! We understand your situation with the voice! We appreciate you sticking with the broadcast, and doing it in spite of your throat condition. God Bless you!

[@stevenirwin8643]

Apologies for anything are not necessary. We appreciate all you do. Us everydayers don't need it. Go Vols! GBO!

[@crashcarter5150]

All us listeners can simply over look voice issues, it happens..🤙 You're still great at what you do Eric! Thanks for all the work & time you put in brother! 💯

[@debrap7137]

Get well soon, Eric. You don’t have to apologize about your voice. We’ve all been there!

[@Craigarooger]

We’ve all been there with losing our voice. No worries. Nobody is laughing at you. Appreciate you showing up & providing the great content even though you’re under the weather. Go Vols!

[@tylerledbetter6455]

Nico looked GREAT! I can't wait to to see him a whole season GO VOLS!

[@christopherwelch192]

If a Vol fan comes home from a game with a good voice, they didn't do their job! Congratulations, be proud of it!

[@robertduncan5696]

Josh Hapul has turned this program around 💯 go Vols

[@jamesmoss6891]

Way to soldier on Eric, we appreciate your show and professionalism!! Get well soon!!

[@antherun]

Eric, no big deal about your voice. Thanks for pushing through it to provide a nice recap of the bowl game!

[@tnjrcfl1]

Bro ignore your voice issues we all have been there and it's not a big deal. You give it way more power and notice when repeatedly apologizing. Great stuff as always and GBO

[@stevebutler8387]

Dude, dont worry. We just want your expertise and info no matter how your voice sounds

[@thundershadow]

What that bowl game performance proves is that Tennessee did not have to go 8-4. Milton may have had the best tools but there was a disconnect in him putting them to good use. Giving Nico the Nod may have only benefitted them by one game, however. I think it was probably a good judgment decision to keep him redshirt eligible. We shall see... if the Lord does not return before we get to the 2024 kickoff.

[@rabbitscryptos7757]

Milton us total garbage and Heupel made him look way better than he is stat wise by watering the playbook down to nothing but easy sideline dump offs and high percent short passes. Milton is a huge liability trying to go down the middle and takes forever to make decisions. His stat line will never tell us how us just how bad he actually really was. Nico would have been an instant upgrade the day he stepped foot on campus.

[@maddb3457]

Milton did just fine this year. Nico was redshirted and we have another 4-5 years with him because of it. We didn't have the wr weapons of last year. Even a record of 10-2 we wouldn't be in this year's CFP. Next year is the first year of the 12 team playoff. We have 4 years to be in the top 12 to make the playoff which is pretty dang exciting.

[@mikecollins1269]

Way to fight through it Eric. Enjoy your podcasts.

[@rncgsu]

Niko was awesome. 29 passing completions out of 38 attempts. 430 yards passing. 2 passing TDs. Texas never stood a chance.

[@jonahallen519]

🤣🤣🤣

[@FoldenBrandonM]

Eric my man I’ve listened to you pretty much every day since early Sept. You’re the man keep doing what you’re doing. I lived in Jeff for a few years as a kid and my dad still lives up on Lake Cherokee. He’s been there since the 90s. I heard you shout out the Patriots a couple months ago so I did some looking and realized you played for CN. Was Mike Davis still around (rb coach??) when you were there? Anyways man I enjoy your show man keep it up.

[@jonahallen519]

nice cheez-it box in the backgound🤣 GBO

[@CarlaJenkinsTV]

I have been telling people since 2022 that UT was rising that scared the rest of the SEC.

[@CarlaJenkinsTV]

I mean technically UT would've gone to the 2022 playoffs had Michigan not sold UT's signals to Clemson giving the Vols their second loss. UT did start off #1 in the 2022 college playoff rankings. The Vols have the talent to make a deep run if not win the whole thing.

[@trevorgibbons]

You’re thinking against South Carolina. Michigan gave South Carolina the signals of Tennessee and Clemson. All speculation unless I missed some news on it, if released, but I believe it to be 99% true.

[@michaelhigdon2912]

You mean South Carolina. Not clemson

[@johnwalker3620]

Good cast Eric, take care of that voice bro!

[@lucashouse9117]

Damn i live in Macon... i miss Tennessee every single day.

[@zylem13]

Eric you're a trooper, but take a little time for yourself and heal up. We'll still be here when you get back.

[@angieledbetter7382]

Tennessee is always pure entertainment in the offseason because yall going to win it all next season , yall got the best team and that QB is going to save your team . 😂😂😂y’all just don’t learn !! GO DAWGS

[@redbug3696]

The Vols didn't allow any scoring by Iowa! Hopefully they will take advantage of the Win.! 😄😕

[@terryqb1016]

Already putting the weight of the world on the kid.... ain't that just like us love starved vol fans

[@hopesandmemes]

Do you think there’s any chance we try to get Kaidon Salter back on campus? Prolly not but could be neat

[@bolinfamily]

Was looking forward to see Ethan Davis but don’t remember him being on the field. Any news on him?

[@tnjrcfl1]

Just behind 2 6 yr seniors. He'll be one of the 2 next season and looks damn good

[@bbking7800]

What happened to Bradley? Was he not able to add the weight? I dear that he will be looking to transfer. Also. Will weathersby be ready for spring ball?

[@SIG226Y]

Why not throw screens on those 3rd downs that Iowa kept blitzing on, to help Nico get rid of the ball faster

[@donaldvandergriff2196]

Eric love your show, you and Boogie are two of the best.

[@Clem_lippin]

Boogie sucks. He makes click bait titles and then gets mad when people call him out for it.

[@stingray8585]

Boogie is only in it for the money, he has even said that before. I wouldn't watch his channel if it was the only one.

[@morrisdavis9231]

No,not back but usually you hear one of the podcasts guys say man did you see that play Coop made his presence didn't seem to influence the offensive line

[@lesliefarmer6755]

The White hope!

[@connorwilkerson354]

Brother you could sound like Sue Dylan and people still gonna listen

[@PlugThaThug]

Take a few shots of lemon juice for ur voice. Had an ol marine corps drill sergeant tell me that’s what they did every night before bed so their voice never went hoarse after all the yelling they always did.

[@majorwootton9130]

Iowa being what they are and first start aside, teams like Georgia and Alabama will take advantage of offensive possessions and 35 points won't win those games. Hope they get that offense fixed and tighten the screws on defense. Not a bad game defensively, but the offense could've been better

[@morrisdavis9231]

What happened to Cooper Mays

[@darylboldin4732]

What you mean he be back next year go vols

[@user-rq2ck2hs5h]

What about nathan leacock? We ŕeally played iowas game good defense basically accounted 2tds sack the qb and run the ball and hits some throws every now and again punting not great but other than that

[@volcanothesweatvolcanothes106]

Eric you sick?

[@rhrh2025]

Unless Tennessee gets this OL problem solved, they're not going anywhere!

[@joebird1400]

Alabubba coach gets the Vols in trouble..

[@wesmarshall5426]

Why mention negative stuff after every compliment to the Vols? Keep it positive because it’s a win and many starters are coming back. Why keep saying don’t get caught up in the success?

[@Clem_lippin]

Because vol fans are notorious for getting carried away with hype and then get pissed off when their overreactions don’t come to fruition. It’s incredibly annoying.

[@gailyates8084]

Take Musinex

[@tylerledbetter6455]

Drink some honey and lemon

[@warrenparker8282]

I would hardly consider beating a horrible boring Iowa team to something to hang your hat on

[@darylboldin4732]

You know why Iowa boreing cause there supost to be too 5 defensive team they actually ranked 4 but there offense is horrible but there defense is elite so what we looking at was how good nico was against a top defense we know it show nothing for our defense

[@warrenparker8282]

@darylboldin4732 I would rather watch paint dry or grass grow than watch Iowa . And I agree you that is the most pathetic offense I have ever seen for a college football team .

[@ryanlexander7661]

Wait, because they beat Iowa? They also beat Clemson last year and sucked this year.

[@FoldenBrandonM]

Eric my man I’ve listened to you pretty much every day since early Sept. You’re the man keep doing what you’re doing. I lived in Jeff for a few years as a kid and my dad still lives up on Lake Cherokee. He’s been there since the 90s. I heard you shout out the Patriots a couple months ago so I did some looking and realized you played for CN. Was Mike Davis still around (rb coach??) when you were there? Anyways man I enjoy your show man keep it up.

[@FoldenBrandonM]

Eric my man I’ve listened to you pretty much every day since early Sept. You’re the man keep doing what you’re doing. I lived in Jeff for a few years as a kid and my dad still lives up on Lake Cherokee. He’s been there since the 90s. I heard you shout out the Patriots a couple months ago so I did some looking and realized you played for CN. Was Mike Davis still around (rb coach??) when you were there? Anyways man I enjoy your show man keep it up.

[@FoldenBrandonM]

Eric my man I’ve listened to you pretty much every day since early Sept. You’re the man keep doing what you’re doing. I lived in Jeff for a few years as a kid and my dad still lives up on Lake Cherokee. He’s been there since the 90s. I heard you shout out the Patriots a couple months ago so I did some looking and realized you played for CN. Was Mike Davis still around (rb coach??) when you were there? Anyways man I enjoy your show man keep it up.

[@FoldenBrandonM]

Eric my man I’ve listened to you pretty much every day since early Sept. You’re the man keep doing what you’re doing. I lived in Jeff for a few years as a kid and my dad still lives up on Lake Cherokee. He’s been there since the 90s. I heard you shout out the Patriots a couple months ago so I did some looking and realized you played for CN. Was Mike Davis still around (rb coach??) when you were there? Anyways man I enjoy your show man keep it up.