This spring, one of the biggest news coming out of Knoxville was Nico Iamaleava’s exit from the Josh Heupel’s roster. It only lasted for 72 hours, but the whirlwind was enough to leave the Vols fans wondering just what had happened. One minute they were driving off to the Neyland Stadium along with the other 30,000 fans for the spring practice wearing the QB’s jersey, the other, they heard whispers of him not attending game and then also leaving the program because the school didn’t agree to his $4 million NIL demand. While it did impact the school, the effects were more on Heupel. Now he has to guess who becomes his primary signal caller before the season starts.

The quarterback room in Knoxville? It’s looking like somebody flipped the lights off and ran out the back door because no one has a clue who’s next. Now so far, the plan is, if an already-available QB is to take Nico’s place, it would either be redshirt freshman Jake Merklinger or freshman George MacIntyre or they will share the duties. However, the other option for UT and Josh is to get a more experienced QB in from the transfer portal, where the HC agrees, “Certainly with only two scholarship players at the quarterback position, we’re going to have to find another guy.” And that’s where the Notre Dame transfer Steve Angeli comes in with his two years of eligibility remaining.

It’s not to say that Angeli is the best bet for a SEC program, but in the crunch times, he could be one of the top options available to the Vols. Of course, he has proven his potential at times. Remember when he led the Fighting Irish in Orange Bowl last season? Turned out his opening score was the margin of the win that Notre Dame needed to win over Penn State. However, with redshirt freshman CJ Carr and third-year backup Kenny Minchey making their cases and the QB battle in Indiana. Hence, as he saw the opening, he made his way out of Notre Dame. And now, seems like he may have a landing spot in Knoxville.

On Sunday’s episode of The Ruffino & Joe Show, the hosts practically dropped a mixtape dedicated to the former Notre Dame QB which might as well be named: Tennessee needs to go all in on Steve Angeli. After Ruffino remarked that he was not disappointed by Angeli’s game, Joe DeLeone also kept it real.

“I think that this is not an indication to me that Angeli can’t start for a team, and I really think that he can. And he’s been around for a very long time. He’s played—he’s not played a lot of college football, but like, he’s been around a program like Notre Dame for some time. So he’s like—he’s been through it. He’s experienced in that sense.

“Tennessee needs to go all in here. Because if you can’t pluck a starter from another program, going and bringing in Steve Angeli is your smartest move. Because Steve Angeli is going to be on target, he is going to be on time, he’s going to keep the offense on schedule and moving ahead. And in an offense that is purely based on timing, Nico’s biggest struggles were hesitation. A lot of hesitation.

“We saw that almost cerebral instinct from Angeli when he stepped into that drive. His pocket awareness wasn’t great because he got stripped on that drive but when he stepped in, you saw him go out and ball. He did exactly what he needed (to do).”

Steve Angeli brings exactly what a timing-based offense needs—he’s on target, on time, and keeps things moving without disruption. He’s not the most explosive quarterback, but he’s steady and reliable, which helps the offense stay on schedule. That stands in sharp contrast to Nico, whose biggest problem has been hesitation. Whether it’s processing reads or pulling the trigger, Nico’s been too slow, and in a system built around quick decisions, that hesitation holds everything back. And Angeli has even given us a show in the Orange Bowl.

When Riley Leonard got clipped late in the playoff semifinal vs Penn State, Steve Angeli stepped in like a dude who knew he’d only get one shot. Without flinching, he went 6-for-7 on a crucial 44-yard drive that set up points before the half. That might not sound like Caleb Williams’ numbers, but if you know football, you know that’s command. That’s trust from the OC.

In 11 appearances last season, Angeli posted 268 yards, 3 touchdowns, no picks, and a slick 156.7 passer rating—while barely getting live reps. No rust. No rattle.

However, Josh knows that expecting to win as the second ranking SEC team with only freshman QBs on the roster is not the brightest ideas. Yet, he wants to make sure that the choice he makes is in the best interest of his team. On3’s Pete Nakos reported that UT “Will evaluate” Angeli. He also mentioned, “The spring portal window only opened on Wednesday, and the Vols are waiting to see who else could enter college football’s free agency before deciding. Tennessee has already begun to vet several options, especially with the sales pitch of playing in the SEC.”

Talking of rattling, a little did happen in what could have been the QB room star for the Vols HC.

Josh Heupel receives upsetting news about 7,073-yard QB

But hold up—Tennessee wasn’t only eyeing Angeli. Enter QB Rocco Becht. That’s the name Tennessee fans were starting to Google like mad. The Iowa State QB has all the makings of a plug-n-play starter. Big arm, gritty legs, smart decisions. Vols Nation was cooking up dream scenarios. But on April 19, Nakos crushed all that hope.

Steve Wiltfong spilled the tea: “Becht is happy with the Cyclones.” And Becht made it clear with a baller move—donating his NIL earnings to a children’s hospital in Ames. Man’s not only loyal, he’s got heart. With 3,505 passing yards and 25 TDs last season, Becht was easily one of the cleanest QB options in the portal. But now? Off the table.

A Power Four GM put it bluntly: “It’s (expletive) wild, I would be sweating if I was Tennessee.” That isn’t just nerves talking. It’s facts. Because the options are thinning, and the Vols might have to throw out a bag just to keep their offense from going stale. So now the focus turns squarely back to Steve Angeli. Here’s the twist that should have Heupel dialing fast…

Purdue’s already sniffing around. They need a starter too. But Purdue’s offense is nowhere near as flashy or quarterback friendly as Tennessee’s. Vols got the tempo, the scheme, the playmakers. If Angeli’s looking for a launchpad, Neyland could be his runway.

But Tennessee can’t play the wait-and-see game anymore. The portal isn’t going to stay full forever, and once those names start disappearing, Vols low-key could be left with scout-team material. The urgency is indeed real. This isn’t about developing a project. This is about finding someone who can go 9-3 or better right now.

So now Josh Heupel’s sitting there with a torn-up playbook, a QB1 spot wide open, and the portal shrinking by the day. And that’s when Joe DeLeone said the quiet part out loud: “If you can’t pluck a starter from another program, going and bringing in Steve Angeli is your smartest move.”

What’s crazy is how fast this whole situation flipped. One week ago, Angeli was just a decent backup. Now he’s looking like Tennessee’s last lifeline. With portal options thinning out and the calendar ticking toward summer workouts, the Vols don’t have time to get cute. They either make a move on Angeli, or risk heading into fall camp with vibes and prayer as their offensive strategy.

Josh Heupel is at the crossroads. No Nico. No Becht. Just a rapidly fading chance to salvage this QB room before the whole house collapses. If not Steve, they need to get someone else in the portal. If Tennessee lets this one slip, they’re not just fumbling a player, they’re fumbling the whole season.