Tennessee football's QB1 battle to be 'intense' as three-way race has no front-runner

The Tennessee Volunteers are entering uncommon territory this summer: they don’t person a starting backmost locked in. And this isn’t conscionable a two-man battle—it’s a three-way competition, each sparked by Nico Iamaleava’s astonishing determination to time off field conscionable 1 time earlier nan outpouring game.

Initially, Iamaleava’s begetter dismissed nan reports, calling retired On3’s Pete Nakos for spreading mendacious information.

“More games being played disconnected nan section than connected nan field. Bi7ch Nakos from On3 called and asked maine directly, I told him I had nary thought connected what he’s talking about. He said his ‘close source’ that he trusts pinch his life from nan University of Tennessee unit gave him this,” Iamaleava’s begetter wrote.

Iamaleava yet transferred to UCLA, where he’s expected to make a important impact—especially for a programme that’s struggled successful caller seasons. His determination to time off Knoxville was reportedly motivated by a desire to beryllium person to home.

His departure has now ignited an all-out backmost conflict astatine Tennessee, pinch 3 players competing for nan job—and each driven by different motivations.

“I deliberation that's going to beryllium a patient competition," said VolQuest’s Brent Hubbs. "But I deliberation it's going to beryllium a beautiful aggravated title successful that backmost room, too. I deliberation Merklinger, I deliberation he sewage a sensation and nan thought of being nan number 1 backmost erstwhile Nico left. That week aliases 2 after, he was QB1. And I don't deliberation he wants to fto spell of that. And past George went from, I'm not gonna play, to hold a minute, I'm successful nan competition. And past Joey Aguilar is looking astatine it going, well, I could measurement successful location and beryllium nan feline astatine an SEC program....and play successful beforehand of 100,000 people, I'm not going to screw this point up. So I deliberation everybody's sewage their ain benignant of thrust pinch it. But I deliberation it's going to beryllium a beautiful aggravated title betwixt each 3 of those. It should beryllium fun."

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All 3 quarterbacks whitethorn beryllium worthy of nan starting role, but only 1 will triumph nan job. Until a determination is made, expect a fiery and competitory ambiance successful nan QB room passim summertime practices.