Tuesday’s grand unveiling of the annual Blue-Chip Ratio supplied a glimpse on the groups historical past says are able to successful school soccer’s 2024 nationwide title. Unsurprisingly, the very best proportion of four- and five-star prospects lately started with Ohio State, Alabama and Georgia.
However there was a big-name model noticeably absent from the record that might have the components to do what Washington did a yr in the past and make a nationwide title push, regardless of lacking the Blue-Chip Ratio. That staff — recognized by BCR creator Bud Elliott as an outlier to look at — is Tennessee.
“By the ‘narrowly misses the minimal threshold + transcendent QB’ customary, Tennessee (46%) is the obvious candidate to bust the ratio in 2024,” Elliot wrote. “QB Nico Iamaleava has particular bodily expertise, and if Tennessee can keep wholesome at offensive line and within the secondary, maybe the Volunteers may pull off one thing particular.”
Tennessee is 20-6 over the previous two seasons underneath coach Josh Heupel and has already threatened to bust the BCR as soon as underneath his route. The Volunteers narrowly missed out on the four-team Faculty Soccer Playoff in 2022, ending 11-2 with an Orange Bowl victory, after rising to No. 1 in that season’s preliminary CFP Rankings.
Although the Vols dipped to 9-4 in 2023, the 2024 staff could share a essential trait with the 2022 Vols: elite quarterback play — or, at the least, the potential for it. Former Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker completed fifth within the 2022 Heisman Trophy voting and would have completed even increased if he hadn’t missed the season’s finish as a result of damage. Iamaleava is skilled, however the Vols have nice expectations for him.
All-in on Nico Iamaleava
After spending a season as Joe Milton’s apprentice, Iamaleava seems like this system’s subsequent megastar QB. The previous five-star prospect ranked behind solely Arch Manning amongst all gamers within the Class of 2023. Whereas Iamaleava’s enjoying time was scarce as a real freshman, he shined when known as upon.
Iamaleava deftly dealt with the problem of dealing with Iowa‘s elite protection whereas drawing his first begin in Tennessee’s 35-0 Citrus Bowl win over the Hawkeyes. He accomplished 12 of 19 passes for 151 yards and a landing as a part of a four-score day, and the Vols racked up extra factors on Iowa than another staff in 2023.
With Iamaleava getting into his second yr in this system, the Volunteers are anticipated to creep in direction of the extent of ruthless offensive effectivity that made them the nation’s No. 1 staff in complete offense throughout the 2022 season.
A yr in the past, Washington completed exterior the Blue-Chip Ratio however used elite quarterback play with Michael Penix Jr. to return inside a sport of busting it. Although the Huskies in the end fell to Michigan within the CFP Nationwide Championship, their 14-1 marketing campaign was a chief instance of how a staff can use an elite quarterback and well-refined offensive scheme to beat any disadvantages.
A best-case situation for Tennessee in 2024 would look related.
Iamaleava is among the many high 10 preseason favorites to win the Heisman Trophy at a number of sportsbooks. If the Vols get something near Hooker’s manufacturing from him, then they might replicate Washington’s run a season in the past and threaten to bust the Blue-Chip Ratio.
Wideouts a hurdle?
In a broad sense, the Volunteers look like the probably staff to bust the BCR, however there’s one other hurdle they need to overcome. To do what Washington did final season, the Vols should take huge strides at receiver.
Three Washington receivers had been chosen inside the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, highlighted by No. 9 total choose Rome Odunze. Matching that stage of high-caliber receiver play will probably be a tall order for the Volunteers until a few breakout stars emerge and carry out at all-conference ranges.
Main receiver Squirrel White is again after making 67 grabs for 803 yards and two touchdowns, however no different broad receiver on Tennessee’s 2024 roster caught greater than 20 passes for the Volunteers in 2023. A few names to look at are Bru McCoy, a veteran whose 2023 season was derailed by damage, and Chris Brazzell II, a Tulane switch who made 44 grabs for the Inexperienced Wave as a redshirt freshman.
Dont’e Thornton is a candidate to do extra after making 13 grabs for 224 yards as a switch from Oregon. The Volunteers additionally landed two of the highest 15 broad receiver prospects from the Class of 2024, Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley.
There’s sufficient expertise within the room for Iamaleava to rack up foolish numbers and ship the Vols taking pictures again previous 500 yards per sport of complete offense. However the distinction between Tennessee’s 2024 receiver group and Washington’s 2023 unit is that the Huskies entered their banner yr with surefire stars. Odunze and Jalen McMillan each surpassed 1,000 yards receiving in 2022, and Ja’lynn Polk was a professional possibility.
Throughout their breakthrough 2022 season, the Volunteers deployed Biletnikoff Winner Jalin Hyatt and a large receiver arsenal that featured 5 gamers with at the least 30 catches and a number of touchdowns. Returning nearer to that customary will probably be key in 2024.
If Tennessee can do it, we’ll be listening to numerous Rocky High in 2024 because the Volunteers mount a problem to the Blue-Chip Ratio.